Watch Cody Garbrandt vs. Dominick Cruz full fight video highlights from UFC 207's co-main event above, courtesy of FOX Sports.
UFC 207: Nunes vs. Rousey took place Dec. 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (22-2) looked to defend his belt against undefeated contender Cody Garbrandt (11-0) in the night's co-main event, which aired live on pay-per-view. Catch the video highlights above.
For more on Cruz vs. Garbrandt, check out the play-by-play courtesy of MMAFighting.com's Chuck Mindenhall.
Round 1: Bantamweight title on the line. John McCarthy is the referee, and he gave the instructions. No touching of gloves. Cruz with his ankles taped. Garbrandt to center, and he lands a little chin music right after a right hand from Cruz. Cruz already a blue of footwork, that herky-jerky stuff that confounds people. Garbrandt living big in the moment — he is showboating, too, mocking Cruz. Big shot over top with a right hand from Garbrandt, and that glances the side of Cruz's head. Wow. Nice head counter from Garbrandt, and that lands. So far Garbrandt looking vulnerable. You don't see Cruz get his this much in a full fight sometimes. But Cruz is still moving. He's winging a little wild early, but he's also turning up the tempo. Kick to the body from Garbrandt. Cruz is still moving in, and Garbrandt is barking at him. A couple of misses from Cruz, and Garbrandt points at him and shuffles his feet. Cruz goes for takedown, and Garbrandt sprawls masterfully. Big left hand from Cruz, that misses. Another sequence, and Cruz throws wild — Garbrandt sticks his tongue out. Garbrandt is sitting down a bit on the dekes, and now he times out a takedown of Cruz! Cruz able to scramble up, but what a great moment there for Garbrandt. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Garbrandt, 10-9.
Round 2: Weird seeing Cruz have to adjust. Nice combo from Cruz, who looked more fluid on that than he had in the first round. Combo from Garbrandt now lands, and Cruz lands a nice counter in there. That might have staggered Garbrandt a little bit. Garbrandt still moving, and Cruz lands a jab. Cruz goes low for a punch, and the counter right is waiting. Garbrandt has an answer for much of the unorthodox activity. Garbrandt attempts a kick, Cruz catches it and tries to leverage Garbrandt down — can't. Great balance there from the Ohioan. Left hook lands from Garbrandt, and then again. Not used to seeing Cruz eat punches. Body kick from Garbrandt, and then a follow-up combo. Cruz working the jab. The talking continues in there. Cruz with a right hand, and body kick. Cruz with a takedown attempt that was mostly successful, and they swing wildly at the end there. Wow! Some pocket throwing. This fight feels tied, but Garbrandt may have edged that round. MMA Fighting scores R2 for Garbrandt, 10-9 (20-18 overall)
Round 3: Man, they are swinging early! Garbrandt lands a couple of big shots, and now he's cut Cruz over the left eye. Cruz with blood streaking down his face. They are saying it was a headbutt that did it. Big right hand lands from Garbrandt, who is out wizarding the wizard himself — and mocking Cruz the whole way. What a big moment for Garbrandt. Again an exchange, and Garbrandt lands. Cruz still spry, still moving, but not getting much offense. He tries a kick to punch combo, but Garbrandt takes nothing. Garbrandt is still smiling each time Cruz whiffs. There's some serious power from Garbrandt there, who smacks Cruz with a series of hard shots. Wow! And again Cruz waves an overhand right that doesn't connect. They exchange, and the counter from Garbrandt lands which momentarily dropped Cruz. But he recovered quick. Whoa, Garbrandt lets Cruz come in and drops his hands — Anderson Silva like — and dodges all the punches that come at him. The bewitched Cruz keeps on. Again Cruz tries to smash up top, and Garbrandt ducks out of the way of everything. Garbrandt comes flying forward with a flurry. Leg kick to left hand from Cruz there. MMA Fighting scores R3 for Garbrandt, 10-9 (30-27 overall).
Round 4: They had a lot to say before the beginning of the fourth. Cruz immediately forward, and tries to kick Garbrandt's leg. Left hand lands for Cruz. Garbrandt in the deepest fight of his career, and he lands a right hand that fells Cruz for a moment! He doesn't follow up. Cruz able to recover. That is crazy. Garbrandt had tremendous poise there. They exchange again, and Cruz lands a very solid left on the break. That was felt by Garbrandt. Cruz swings and misses with a kick, and Garbrandt puts his arms akimbo and shakes his head disappointedly. Straight right hand from Garbrandt, and Cruz eats it. Cruz in major trouble. Again, Cruz misses a ton of shots and Garbrandt does a breakdancing move after all of that. Masterful stuff from Garbrandt. Cruz misses high. The talk continues, at least from Garbrandt. Cruz, usually so dominant in his footwork/movement, can't solve Garbrandt. He's still coming in with the unorthodox stuff, and Garbrandt just slammed another right hand that drops Cruz. And another. Cruz can't pick up these punches. Garbrandt is so composed each time. And that's one hell of a chin on Cruz! MMA Fighting scores R4 for Garbrandt, 10-8 (40-35 overall)
Round 5: Cruz going to need a finish here. Even if my score is wrong (and Cruz got one of the first two rounds), he has been dominated in the last couple. Cruz trying to cut the angle. Cruz attempts a spinning shot, but misses. A series of left jabs from Cruz. Cruz comes to life with a nice right hand. Uppercut from Cruz misses. Flying knee nearly caught Garbrandt coming in! But didn't hit flush. Garbrandt mocks Cruz, by dropping down and doing a squat thrust. Cruz is fighting a little more desperate, as he should, and he's landing. Left hand after a faked flying knee from Cruz. Now Cruz gets thrown to the mat on an aggressive moment. Cruz misses there. But he has Cruz's game down. Cruz moving forward swinging for the fences inside a minute, and Garbrandt — perhaps trying to slow it down — posts Cruz on the fence. Inside of 30 seconds. Garbrandt might be about to win the title. Garbrandt circles, and Cruz tries to chop his leg out. And the air horn sounds, with each guy smiling and a handshake, MMA Fighting scores R5 for Cruz, 10-9 (49-45 for Garbrandt overall).UFC 207 official results: Cody Garbrandt def. Dominick Cruz via unanimous decision (48-46, 48-47, 48-46)