In the build up to UFC 199, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber have been doing a significant amount of media to promote their upcoming title fight. During this time, Faber has become increasingly more vocal in insinuating PED usage by Cruz and by his former protege T.J. Dillashaw. In response, Cruz has been adamant that Faber's accusations are completely without merit. In an interview with Jonathan Shrager of MMAUnderground, Cruz expounds on why he thinks Faber levies those accusations and why they are so damaging.

"It is slander. 100% and that's Faber's style. He has no character and he proved that because before he said anything about me...he threw the kid that he mentored from high school all the way up, he threw him under the bus to try to make himself look good. That's Faber's style. He'll throw his own family under the bus to make sure that his name is cleared and he looks good...That's his style. I've known that about Faber since 2007. I've always said that. People don't want to believe it, people are gonna believe what they want about that guy, but he's a car salesman. He gives you what he thinks you want to hear instead of the truth."

The lack of evidence by Faber is what really seems to bother Cruz, and while he has made it clear in other interviews that he isn't the biggest fan of Dillashaw either, he draws the line at making unfounded accusations. Cruz cites his desire to behave as a professional and the fact that PED allegations stain a fighter's career in a damaging and hard to remove manner.

"I'm not best of friends with T.J., everybody knows that too. There's things about him I don't like also. But I'm not going out there throwing out accusations and slandering people's careers. That's a career-ending accusation with no basis behind it....You have the PED next to your name and it looks bad whether it's true or not. It just looks terrible. And that's what Faber threw at his boy T.J. Dillashaw. What are you doing man? This guy trains and works with young kids. You think his kids want to hear [PEDs] next to T.J. Dillashaw's name...What does that say about Faber? What are you doing? It's just not professional, it shows lack of character, it's tasteless. I would never do that."

The majority of Faber's remarks on the subject have been not-so-subtle insinuations as opposed to outright accusations but in MMA labels can follow a fighter for the duration of his career which is why Cruz has remarked frequently that he "speaks in facts." Cruz then went on to say why Faber is making these statements without hard evidence.

"The main act of fear is judgment. And he judged T.J. Dillashaw because he doesn't understand how he won the belt. He was jealous of TJ Dillashaw for getting the belt and he couldn't. You could see it in the picture, look at the picture of those guys when T.J.'s holding up the belt and Faber's in the cage with him. Go back and look at the picture. His face just looks silly. Blank stare. Jealousy."

It's fair to point out that Cruz's statements have the same amount of evidence as Faber's insinuations against Dillashaw, however there is a world of difference between accusing someone of PED usage and accusing someone of acting enviously. Regardless, this is only adding more fuel to the fire for when the two bantamweights meet next month which is just how Cruz wants it.

"That's the beauty of this sport. If I don't like somebody I can fight him. I don't have to deal with him. I can call him out. I can say, ‘let's solve this problem' and that's what we're gonna do on June 4th. I'm gonna beat it out of Faber."

Dominick Cruz defends his UFC bantamweight championship in a rubber match against Urijah Faber at UFC 199 on June 4th in Inglewood, Calif.

You can watch the full interview below.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Best wishes. Bellator featherweight Jordan Parsons was hit by a car, is in critical condition, and had part of his leg amputated.

Starting to look bad. Conor McGregor posted to Instagram telling the UFC to 'cut the shit' and book the Nate Diaz fight.

If it walks like a duck. Luke Rockhold thinks American Kickboxing Academy is unfairly criticized for injury woes.

And quacks like a duck... American Kickboxing Academy's Josh Thomson forced to withdraw from scheduled bout with Michael Chandler.

Chewbacca defense. Donald Cerrone says the UFC took the Khabib Nurmagomedov fight off the table because it didn't make sense for them.

EXTRA CREDIT READING

Hitman. Karim Zidan of Bloody Elbow dives into the story of Amar Suloev, a former UFC fighter turned contract killer.

MEDIA STEW

Cyborg pulls Carano into mount. Twice. And still wins handily.

Josh Samman is a smart guy and a good writer. You should check out his book.

Not too shabby from JDS.

TTTHS has been both plentiful and amusing lately.

Kayla Harrison is an Olympic gold medalist in Judo. She says that thanks to Ronda she is considering the option of fighting in MMA. She is young and obviously athletically gifted. It would be a big boon to women's MMA if she did come over. However, she won the gold at 78 kg though so that might be a hurdle if she does decide to try.

Max Holloway's training camp has begun.

LONG WATCHES

Yves Edwards new show started strong.













TWEETS

CM is persistent that's for sure.

Nobody gives a fuck about these other fights until this one is settled. Cut the bullshit. Run it back. #RealFight A video posted by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on May 1, 2016 at 4:21am PDT

Well played.

Walkout song for my fight. "Welcome to the jungle." Considering that my opponent told me to go back to the jungle. pic.twitter.com/iuBBkUBuad — Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) April 29, 2016

"Mr. Hold"

@TommyToeHold Thanks Mr. Hold lol I hope to see you at UFC 200 — Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) April 30, 2016

Those don't have to be mutually exclusive.

Not sure if the doctor said I was obese or a beast — Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) May 1, 2016

I wonder if those socks he's wearing with his UFC flip flops are UFC as well? Reebok maybe?

doin manly shit presher washing the fence pic.twitter.com/qbIa6poR3j — Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) May 1, 2016

Cowboy's catchphrase is catching on.

Looks like you have a job opening at Featherweight @danawhite @seanshelby @lorenzofertitta...I know a guy ! https://t.co/fVpyUXU5WI — Matt Bessette (@ManglerBJJ) April 29, 2016

This is pretty rough. Send out good vibes for the man M-Rmy.

Everyone say a prayer for my teammate @prettyboymma_jp who was hit by a car in a hit and run accident last night walking home. Jordan is now fighting for his life in a coma with an amputated leg.. Life is unbelievably fragile and precious.#pray#blackzilians#jordanparsons A photo posted by Suga Rashad Evans (@suga_rashadevans) on May 1, 2016 at 11:36am PDT

Honestly this sort of sounds like a guy who is planning on hanging them up soon. I hope not. DC is one of the best.

Conor better watch out. Frank Dux don't play.

Good training with @jcvd today #frankdux #martialarts #ninjashit #100 #represent A photo posted by natediaz209 (@natediaz209) on Apr 30, 2016 at 9:36pm PDT

The man can wrestle bears but didn't want no part of that cat.

Закинули #Repost @islam_makhachev with @repostapp. ・・・ Всё всё всё братуха A video posted by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on May 1, 2016 at 10:16am PDT

You've got to respect the way Chandler handled this.

Cowboy seems like the fighter who would be the most fun to hang out with.

My man @philliphawes says cowboy I don't know how to swim!! Me: I got just the thing for ya my A photo posted by Donald Cerrone (@cowboycerrone) on Apr 30, 2016 at 7:21pm PDT





FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Roy Nelson (21-12-0) vs. Derrick Lewis (15-4-0-1); UFC Fight Night 90, July 7.

Evan Dunham (17-6-0) vs. James Vick (9-0-0); UFC 199, June 4.

Thiago Tavares (20-6-1) vs. Doo Ho Choi (13-1-0); UFC - The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale, July 8.

Anthony Birchak (12-3-0) vs. Dileno Lopes (18-2-0); UFC Fight Night 90, July 7.

Gesias Cavalcante (19-8-1-2) vs. Pat Healy (33-21-1); Titan FC 39, June 10.

TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2014: At Bellator 118, Joe Warren defeated Rafael Silva by unanimous decision to become the Bellator interim bantamweight champion. Warren was originally scheduled to face bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantes but Dantes was forced to withdraw from the bout. Silva stepped in for the interim championship but missed weight resulting in a situation where if Warren won he would be named interim champion but if Silva won no one would claim an interim title.

Also on the card, Liam McGeary knocked out Mike Mucitelli with a punch in the first 30 seconds of the first round.

1992: UFC flyweight Justin Scoggins was born.

Think I missed a spot? Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.