‘Super-pumped’ Urijah Faber is ready to induct ‘frenemy’ Dominick Cruz into UFC Hall of Fame

Former two-time bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will be the first inductee of the class of 2026.

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Urijah Faber reacts to Dominick Cruz joining the UFC Hall of Fame

Urijah Faber couldn’t be happier for the man he famously fought three times in the WEC and UFC.

I’m pumped for him,” he said when asked about Dominick Cruz’s UFC Hall of Fame nod during an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow.

“Dom and I have always had a love-hate relationship. We’ve been frenemies for years. We’ve had each other’s numbers, talked trash to each other, cheered each other on, communicated about business, and at this point, I would say we are friends.

“So, I’m super-pumped for him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame – he’s one of the best guys to do it, for sure.

“You know, he had a tough road, man. I mean, talk about a guy who had a lot of injuries. I think I’ve got maybe twice as many fights as he had because he had so many injuries. But when he got out there, he was world-class and is definitely a Hall of Famer.”

UFC Hall of Famers are typically inducted by a prominent figure, peer, or UFC executive.

Faber says he is ready and willing to play that for Cruz at International Fight Week in June.

“Oh absolutely,” the 46-year-old added about potentially inducting Cruz into the UFC Hall of Fame.

“I’ve got a bunch of great stories about that guy. I’m not sure he’d love that, but he might.

“We were a big part of each other’s careers, that’s for sure.”

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Revisiting the Urijah Faber vs Dominick Cruz rivalry

Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz first fought for featherweight gold at WEC 26 in March 2007.

Faber needed just 98 seconds to hand ‘The Dominator’ his first career loss by guillotine choke.

Their feud migrated to the Octagon, leading to an iconic coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter 15.

Two massive bantamweight title fights followed at UFC 132 in 2011 and UFC 199 five years later.

Cruz won both bouts to avenge his first career loss and settle one of the biggest rivalries in MMA history.

Faber got his revenge when he coached Cody Garbrandt to a 135lb title win over Cruz in 2016.

A decade later, Faber and Cruz are firm friends after putting their rivalry to one side in retirement.