8 Most Notorious Gym Fights In MMA

Often derisively referred to as the ‘decisionator’, Dominic Cruz has earned a reputation during his WEC/UFC stint as not being a finisher. Only two of his 14 fights during his time in both organisations haven't gone the distance.

However, this can be explained by the fact that Dominic Cruz has consistently fought the elite of the bantamweight division. The one time he recently fought someone slightly below the top of the division, Takeya Mizugaki, he dominated him, winning by KO in 61 seconds.

This gym fight is from Cruz’s time as a prospect fresh out of his amateur wrestling career. The story is that his opponent came into the gym claiming to be a ninjitsu practitioner and looking to test his skills against an MMA fighter.

Unlike a regular sparring session, this is more like an exhibition fight. The two men are locked in the cage with a coach acting as a referee, and other people from the gym looking on from outside.

In the fight Cruz wastes no time in establishing his dominance, taking the supposed ninja down in just seconds, establishing a dominant position and landing devastating ground and pound forcing the ninja to tap from strikes.

Despite the finish, it appears that the ninja asks for another round of action, as the video reopens with the men facing off again. Once more, Cruz establishes his fighting superiority, this time showing off his evasive striking skills that would eventually become a hallmark of his style, catching the ninja with a looping hook. Then Cruz lands a big head kick, at which point it appears that the ninja has had enough and signals no más.