| Plinio Cruz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Plinio M. Franchi Cruz November 30, 1985 São Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian American |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 269.3 lb (122 kg; 19 st 3 lb) |
| Division | Middleweight (2008–2012) Heavyweight (2014–2017) Super Heavyweight (2019) Heavyweight (Boxing) |
| Reach | 74 in (188 cm) |
| Style | Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
Fighting out of | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Team | Macaco Gold Team (2008–2012) Cruz MMA Academy (2013–2019; 2026–present) |
| Trainer | Jorge Patino |
| Rank | 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Jorge Patino 2nd dan black belt in Judo under Jorge "Macaco" Patino Black prajiad in Muay Thai |
| Years active | 2008–2019, 2026–present |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 1 |
| Wins | 1 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 17 |
| Wins | 8 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Losses | 9 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Occupation | Martial artist, coach, and trainer |
| Notable club | Cruz MMA Academy |
| Website | cruzmma |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Plinio Cruz (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈplĩnju ˈkɾus]; born November 30, 1985) is a Brazilian-American mixed martial arts coach, professional boxer, and mixed martial artist. He is the head coach and founder of Cruz MMA. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of Misfits Boxing (MFB). As a mixed martial artist, he most notably competed in the Heavyweight division of Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), where he was the former CFFC Heavyweight Champion. He also competed in Bellator Fighting Championships, M-1 Global, and Ring of Combat (ROC).
Plinio Cruz was born on November 30, 1985, in São Paulo, Brazil. Cruz started taking Judo classes at the age of three. Plinio started watching mixed martial arts (MMA) events in his youth, specifically watching the fights of Jorge “Macaco” Patino, a mixed martial artist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. He started training martial arts at the age of 16, under Jorge and his team, the Gold Team Fighters, starting out with Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). He trained in the martial art, and after approximately six months, he was placed in the São Paulo State Jiu Jitsu Championship, which he placed third. Years later, he went to the same tournament and placed first.
Plinio debuted in mixed martial arts at the age of 22, going 2–0 in the Ultimate Combat (UC)’s Middleweight Grand Prix, winning it on March 15, 2008.
Cruz made his MMA debut in the U.S regional scene at KAP: The Return of Macaco, facing future KSW Middleweight title challenger, Jay Silva. He won the fight via split decision.
Plinio challenged for the Ring of Combat (ROC) Middleweight Championship against the incumbent champion, Rafael Natal, at Ring of Combat 24, on April 17, 2009. He lost the fight in the second round, due to submission.
Cruz fought against Mike Geurin at WCA: Caged Combat, on June 6, 2009. He lost the fight by knockout in the third round.
On November 20, 2009, Plinio fought Ariel Sepulveda, at Ring of Combat 27. He won the fight by split decision.
Plinio made his M-1 debut at 2010 in M-1 Global#M-1 Selection 2010: The Americas Round 1, fighting John Doyle on April 3, 2010. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cruz then faced Tyson Jeffries at M-1 Selection 2010: The Americas Round 3, on August 7, 2010. He lost the fight by split decision.
Plinio fought against Magomed Sultanakhmedov in M-1 Challenge 23, on March 5, 2011. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round, due to punches.
Plinio made his Bellator debut against Duane Bastress at Bellator 65, on April 13, 2012. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round, by elbows.
Cruz then made his Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) debut against J.A. Dudley at Cage Fury FC 34, on April 19, 2014. He won the fight by armbar in the first round.
Plinio then fought the incumbent champion, Azunna "Zu" Anyanwu, for the CFFC Heavyweight Championship. The pair fought at Cage Fury FC 43, on November 1, 2014. Cruz won the fight by unanimous decision, therefore winning the CFFC Heavyweight Championship.
Cruz then rematched Azunna in his first title defense at Cage Fury FC 50, on July 18, 2015. He lost the fight via split decision, losing the championship in the process.
In his next fight, Plinio faced former champion, Joe Stripling, at Cage Fury FC 55, on January 9, 2016. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
On May 21, 2016, Cruz rematched against Azunna Anyanwu, this time for the vacant CFFC Heavyweight Championship, at Cage Fury FC 58. He lost the fight by majority decision.
Plinio then faced future UFC contender, Chris Daukaus, at Cage Fury FC 69. They fought on December 16, 2017, where Plinio lost the fight by knockout in the first round.
After a long hiatus, Plinio returned to competition and fought Douglas Humberto, at Future FC 6, on June 28, 2019, in a Super heavyweight bout. He lost the fight by knockout in the third round. After this fight, he retired from mixed martial arts to focus on full-time coaching.
In 2013, Plinio opened his own martial arts gym, the Cruz MMA Academy, in Newark, New Jersey. He is the head coach and owner of the establishment. Over the years, he has been described as one of the best coaches in the world. His most notable achievement as a coach is winning the 2024 "Coach of the Year" award at the 16th edition of the World MMA Awards. Some of his most notable students are the two-division GLORY and UFC champion, Alex Pereira, the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Glover Teixeira, the color commentator and former mixed martial artist Laura Sanko, and King Edokpolo.
Plinio announced a return to fighting at the start of the year, looking to negotiate between a title fight between the incumbent MFB Heavyweight Champion, Chase DeMoor between August and September. However, DeMoor had pulled out of the fight, after suffering a reported eye injury. Cruz made his professional boxing debut against Gary Olive in the Copper Box Arena on October 10, 2026, at the Essex vs. Dapper event for the MF Pro promotion. He won the fight in the second round by technical knockout. After the fight, Cruz called out Chase in his post-fight interview, calling for a rescheduling of the bout between each other.
Plinio is an American citizen, achieving naturalized citizenship in December 2021.
| 17 matches | 8 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 5 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 8–9 | Douglas Humberto | TKO (punch) | Future FC 6 | June 28, 2019 | 3 | 3:57 | São Paulo, Brazil | Super Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 8–8 | Chris Daukaus | KO (punch) | Cage Fury FC 69 | December 16, 2017 | 1 | 2:38 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 8–7 | Azunna Anyanwu | Decision (majority) | Cage Fury FC 58 | May 12, 2016 | 4 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | For the vacant CFFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–6 | Joe Stripling | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Fury FC 55 | January 9, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 7–6 | Azunna Anyanwu | Decision (split) | Cage Fury FC 50 | July 18, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Lost the CFFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–5 | Azunna Anyanwu | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Fury FC 43 | November 1, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Won the CFFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–5 | J.A. Dudley | Submission (armbar) | Cage Fury FC 34 | April 29, 2014 | 1 | 4:12 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 5–5 | Duane Bastress | TKO (punches) | Bellator 65 | April 13, 2012 | 2 | 2:52 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 5–4 | Magomed Sultanakhmedov | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 23 | March 5, 2011 | 2 | 1:13 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Loss | 5–3 | Tyson Jeffries | Decision (split) | M-1 Selection 2010: The Americas Round 3 | August 7, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 5–2 | John Doyle | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Selection 2010: The Americas Round 1 | April 3, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 4–2 | Ariel Sepulveda | Decision (split) | Ring of Combat 27 | November 20, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 3–2 | Mike Geurin | KO (punch) | WCA: Caged Combat | June 6, 2009 | 3 | 2:54 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Rafael Natal | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Ring of Combat 24 | April 17, 2009 | 2 | 3:13 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | For the Ring of Combat Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–0 | Jay Silva | Decision (split) | Karriem Abdallah Productions: The Return of Macaco | February 7, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Fabio Bomba | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Ultimate Combat Grand Prix | March 15, 2008 | 1 | 3:50 | São Paulo, Brazil | Won the Ultimate Combat Middleweight Grand Prix. |
| Win | 1–0 | Thiago Cardoso | KO (punches) | 1 | 2:50 | Middleweight debut. Ultimate Combat Middleweight Grand Prix Semifinal. |
| 1 fight | 1 win | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Gary Olive | TKO | 2 (3) 0:58 | Oct 10, 2026 | Copper Box Arena, London, England |