UFC 132 Fight Card: Early Betting Odds and Picks: Dominick Cruz vs Urijah Faber

Faber:  +105
Cruz: -147

You know the history. You know the stakes. And in a nutshell, this fight has all the makings of a classic.

Both men are multi-faceted fighters, though Cruz definitely prefers to box and Faber likes to grapple.

In their first meeting, for Faber’s then-featherweight title, The California Kid handed Cruz his only MMA loss by slapping on a rear naked choke.

This time, though, it’s Cruz with the strap.

What makes this exciting is that either man can hold his own in the other man’s world. Both of these men are extremely tough, with only three stoppage losses combined in 47 pro fights. You know that means: 25 minutes of MMA sumptuousness.

This will be the rare fight for which the word “war” will not feel like painful hyperbole. I think it will just be a matter of who can impose will.

I think the younger Cruz will have the energy to outpoint (if not finish) Faber, avenge the only loss on his record and earn the star status he deserves in the UFC. 

Pick:  Cruz