Sportskeeda MMA Awards 2016: Top 10 Fights of the Year

#6 TJ Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz

One of the most beautifully orchestrated technical battles to ever grace the octagon

Let's keep the theme of redemption rolling, this time against an injury and not an opponent. When Dominick Cruz suffered a string of injuries that forced him to relinquish a title that he never lost, many believed that this was the end of a very unique fighter.

Since Dominick Cruz's complete game was based on movement, being light on the feet, cutting great angles and constant feints, the knee injuries felt like a nail in the coffin on his entire strategy and approach to the game.

After running over Takeya Mizugaki in a few minutes on his UFC return after more than three years of layoff, it seemed like Cruz was back on track and right in the mix. And then, it happened, again. Cruz blew his other knee out and was forced to stay on the fences for more than a year.

Once again, Cruz had to build himself up. But this time, He got the much-deserved title shot against the then Bantamweight Kingpin TJ Dillashaw.

A lot of people believed that Dillashaw had borrowed Cruz's style and movement to aid in his own growth as a mixed martial artist. Even Cruz allegedly forced his opinion that while he was out due to injuries, the Bantamweight division still had not managed to catch up to the techniques and fighting style that he had assembled for himself.

A very lofty claim to make but backed up by all his success throughout the years over top contenders. After a lot of back and forth trash talk, with Cruz usually coming out on top in the verbal exchanges, the fight finally materialised.

The fight went the distance with Cruz being an unsolvable enigma for the reigning champion TJ Dillashaw, who ended up missing more than 50% of the strikes that he threw. Even the ones that landed barely managed to touch him.

While Dillashaw had a little success with head kicks and outside leg kicks that managed to halt the incessant and unorthodox movement of Cruz, the fight was a largely a one-sided affair.

Cruz also managed to become the first man to ever take Dillashaw down in a fight and did so almost at will.

Dominick's impeccable timing, confusing but graceful movement, deep gas tank and an uncanny amount of confidence even considering his long layoff, helped him pull off a well-deserved but extremely hard-earned split decision victory.

After all the upsets that this year had in for us already, it was refreshing to see an inspiring comeback story.