Dominick Cruz, a former UFC bantamweight champion, shared a story about a generous gift from the UFC during a talk with Demetrious Johnson. The 40-year-old recounted how UFC president Dana White gave him a Nissan GT-R worth $125,000 after his title defense against Johnson on October 1, 2011, at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson. At the time, Cruz was living in a one-bedroom studio apartment in someone’s backyard, struggling financially.
Cruz Shares Humble UFC Memory
Cruz described the car’s value overwhelming him. He took the fight on short notice after a busy schedule, and the GT-R marked a turning point in his early career.
Cruz said, “From 2010 to 2014 I lived in a one bedroom studio. And I remember I fought you, and Dana gave me a GT-R for that fight.”
He continued, “I had to fight you on one month’s notice, after fighting Urijah Faber, back to back. They were like ‘All right, we’ll give you a GT-R if you do this.’ The car itself was more money that anything I had near my [bank] account my entire life. The car was worth about $125 grand. And I’m like … do I sell it? This is a lot of money! Is it stupid to keep this?”
Cruz added, “I’m pulling it up to a one bedroom studio, I’m in the back house behind somebody’s house, I’m using their laundry machine. I share laundry with this family. I pull up in a GT-R, they see me and they’re like, ‘Uh, we’re upping your rent!’ I was paying $700 a month, I couldn’t leave.”
Former UFC champ Dominick Cruz revealed Dana White gave him a $125K GT-R to fight Demetrious Johnson on short notice in 2011 👀😯
DJ: “What the f*ck? I never got nothing!” 😭 pic.twitter.com/ayXcyvg7Ye
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 10, 2025
Cruz’s GT-R gift followed his unanimous decision win over Demetrious Johnson at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson on October 1, 2011, defending his bantamweight title. The short-notice fight came after his win over Urijah Faber at UFC 132 in July 2011. Dana White’s gift was a rare gesture during the UFC’s early growth, rewarding Cruz’s willingness to compete. The $125,000 car stood out against Cruz’s $700-a-month studio, highlighting his financial struggles.
Dominick Cruz turned pro in 2005 and joined the WEC in 2007, transitioning to the UFC in 2010 after the WEC merger. With a 24-4 record, he became the first UFC bantamweight champion in 2010, defending the title five times against Urijah Faber (twice), Joseph Benavidez, Demetrious Johnson, and Raphael Assuncao. Key wins include Scott Jorgensen and Takeya Mizugaki. Injuries hampered Cruz, including a torn ACL in 2012 and another in 2014, sidelining him for years. He won the title back from TJ Dillashaw on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199 by unanimous decision but lost it to Cody Garbrandt on December 30, 2016, at UFC 207 by unanimous decision. His final fight was a knockout loss to Marlon Vera in August 2022 at UFC on ESPN 41. Cruz retired in 2022 and now works as a UFC commentator.
