5 of the best bantamweight fights in MMA history

TJ Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz | UFC Boston

It will always be comical to reflect on this fight and see UFC Boston. This will go down as a personal favorite and should be widely considered one of the greatest fights in MMA history. Why, you ask?

This fight not only represents the bantamweight division historically but is a true testament to just how good Dominick Cruz was as an MMA fighter. It was widely known that Cruz was suffering tremendously from the damage his bodied endured over the years. At the same time, his competitive level was unmatched and it was obvious he wanted a big win over Dillashaw, especially after he went toe-to-toe with Barao.

There isn't a better bout when it comes to the preamble heading into the event and the skill displayed in the fight. The fact is, this ended in a split decision win for Cruz which could've gone either way. This was a true depiction of elite-level skill but also the ability to read your opponent. Dillashaw did a great job of dealing with Cruz's unorthodox movement while Cruz was able to neutralize Dillashaw's footwork and level-changing to find success.

Historically speaking, Cruz had the longest and most prestigious reign as champion, but Dillashaw really was 'that guy'. Dillashaw has yet to beat Cruz in an MMA fight, but I'm not sure you can argue that this could be 1 and 2 of all time in the division. While Cruz has the longevity and fights to his name, Dillashaw pulled off incredible wins and, skill-for-skill, could be one of the best pound-for-pound mixed martial artists of all time.