Cruz impressed with bantamweight challengers: 'This division's on fire'

Dominick Cruz defended his UFC bantamweight title in impressive fashion Saturday night.

Related: Cruz dominates Faber to defend UFC title in trilogy bout

After Cruz took down long-time rival Urijah Faber at UFC 199, the champ said there's plenty more to be excited about in the weight class and he's ready for all of it.

"Look, these fights are hard, all these fights are difficult. This fight tonight, it was difficult," Cruz said at the post-fight press conference, according to Jonathan Bradley of FOX Sports. "I did well, I won, thank God. I really thank God for it. But I want to be humble in defeat and when I win, to an extent. He's talking, so I'm talking back, that's how it goes. But the truth is, this division's on fire.

"It's my job to come in here and be the champion. Now everybody's talking about 135 pounds. It's stacked right now, there's tons of guys that look amazing ... it fires me up, and I think the division is fired up for me coming back after a four-year layoff."

Cruz awaits a challenger to arise from either UFC 200 or Fight Night 91, both taking place in mid-July, and he is excited for his next title defense, whoever his opponent may be.

"The target is on my back," Cruz said. "I feel it, I love it, bask in it. Bring it."