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While Ronda Rousey shrank in defeat, Dominick Cruz shined

Dominick Cruz kicks Cody Garbrand during their UFC bantamweight title fight at UFC 207.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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The harshness of Ronda Rousey’s 48-second technical-knockout loss to Amanda Nunes was amplified Friday night by the contrast in grace and sportsmanship that fallen UFC champion Dominick Cruz showed in his defeat.

“Loss is part of life,” Cruz said, opening a post-fight news conference that followed both the surrender of his bantamweight belt by unanimous decision to Cody Garbrandt and his first loss since March 24, 2007. “This is life.”

Venice’s Rousey, keeping with her silent treatment of reporters that included not participating in typical UFC-mandated obligations, left T-Mobile Arena without speaking.

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San Diego’s Cruz, meanwhile, gave an impressive account of himself by taking every question that was given.

“I got caught in a couple transitions and that’s how it goes in this game,” said Cruz, who sustained a nasty cut over his left eye in the third round after contact with Garbrandt’s foot, then was knocked down in the round and was on the canvas four more times in the fourth round. “You’re swinging four-ounce gloves. You get caught sometimes.”

The judges’ scores were 48-46, 48-47, 48-46 for Garbrandt (11-0), who at 25 years old showed better movement and more power than Cruz, 31.

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Cruz said “after seeing the look in his eyes when I caught him, punched him, kicked him, I’m not disappointed in myself at all,” and Garbrandt actually said he preferred a rematch with Cruz for his next fight rather than a bout against No. 1 contender T.J. Dillashaw.

“All I can say is I lost and I’ll take my loss as a man,” Cruz said.

He said he “enjoyed every second” of the fight that included ongoing banter between the fighters. Garbrandt is the top protégé in Sacramento of Team Alpha Male gym owner Urijah Faber, who had dealt Cruz (22-2) his only previous loss but retired recently, months after Cruz closed their trilogy with a second win.

“This was another fight I had to challenge myself. I knew he was going to be good,” Cruz said. “That’s how it is when you’re a champion. Somebody has a target on their back. Now, I get to chase the target for once.”

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He pointed to veteran champion Michael Bisping and his fellow Fox analyst Daniel Cormier as examples of fighters who’ve shaken off defeat to return and gain a belt.

“This is a game where if you don’t have people who dislike you, then you don’t know what it is to be liked,” Cruz said. “I’ve had a lot of dislike thrown at me in this game, but I’ve also had a lot of love.

“I’ve never lied about one thing. I never criticized one person in any way that I did not believe was true. How am I mean a guy if I’m telling the truth? Because nobody wants to hear the truth. Here I am, dealing with the truth right now.”

Cruz credited Garbrandt for performing better with his punching range.

“He believes in power … he sat, he waited in the middle and he said, ‘Come to me, and when you come to me, I’m going to pull you into my power,’” Cruz said. “That’s OK. I take the risk of having the higher output. By having the higher output, that leaves you open to bigger shots. I buckled his knees a couple times.

“I could’ve pulled back and the fight would’ve been more stagnant. Who the hell wants to watch that?”

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Many in attendance labeled Cruz’s frank assessment as one of the most illuminating post-fight breakdowns by a losing fighter they’d ever heard.

“Tonight was his night,” Cruz said. “I don’t think I’m older, slower or off. … I’m still in it.”

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimespugmire

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