Cruz scores 1st win since 2016 at UFC 259
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is back in the win column for the first time since 2016.
Cruz defeated Casey Kenney via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) in the featured preliminary bout of UFC 259 on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Cruz ended a two-fight skid with the victory and earned his first win since beating Urijah Faber in a 135-pound title defense in June 2016.
"The Dominator" stayed more active in the stand-up department, and he used his unorthodox movement and footwork to avoid Kenney's biggest shots. Kenney made the fight competitive and landed his fair share of strikes, but Cruz had a higher pace throughout the contest.
The 35-year-old landed two takedowns in the third round to secure the decision victory.
Cruz entered the bout coming off back-to-back losses to Cody Garbrandt and Henry Cejudo, which was the first losing streak of his professional career.
Kenney, 29, saw his three-fight winning streak come to an end.