Reporting from Las Vegas — 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.
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.
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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Ronda Rousey walks to the octagon to face Amanda Nunes for the women’s bantamweight championship bout at UFC 207.
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Ronda Rousey enters the octagon to face Amanda Nunes for the women’s bantamweight championship at UFC 207.
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Amanda Nunes throws a left against Ronda Rousey during their women’s bantamweight championship fight at UFC 207.
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Amanda Nunes puts Ronda Rousey on the defensive during their bantamweight title bout on Friday night at UFC 207.
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Amanda Nunes lands an overhand right to an already battered face of Ronda Rousey during their bantamweight title fight at UFC 207.
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Amanda Nunes connects with an overhand right against Ronda Rousey during their women’s bantamweight championship fight at UFC 207.
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Ronda Rousey prepares to kick Amanda Nunes during their women’s bantamweight title bout at UFC 207.
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Ronda Rousey tries to gather herself after losing in 48 seconds to Amanda Nunes in the women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 207.
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Amanda Nunes, right, hugs Ronda Rousey after beating the former champion in the first round of their women’s bantamweight championship bout at UFC 207.
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Amanda Nunes, left, celebrates her victory over Ronda Rousey, right, after their women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 207. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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Amanda Nunes exits the octagon after her victory over Ronda Rousey at UFC 207.
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Cody Garbrandt kicks Dominick Cruz during their bantamweight championship bout at UFC 207.
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Dominick Cruz kicks Cody Garbrand during their UFC bantamweight title fight at UFC 207. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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Cody Garbrandt strikes a bloodied Dominick Cruz during their bantamweight championship fight at UFC 207.
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Cody Garbrandt, right, celebrates as he receives his belt after defeating Dominick Cruz, left, in a bantamweight championship bout at UFC 207.
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TJ Dillashaw hits John Lineker with an overhand right during their bantamweight bout at UFC 207.
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TJ Dillashaw, left, throws a kick to John Lineker during a bantamweight bout at UFC 207.
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John Lineker, left, and TJ Dillashaw trade blow during their bantamweight bout at UFC 207.
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TJ Dillashaw exits the Octagon after defeating John Lineker in their bantamweight bout at UFC 207.
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Dong Hyun Kim, left, and Tarec Saffiedine trade punches during their welterweight bout at UFC 207.
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Tarec Saffiedine throws a kick at Dong Hyun Kim during their welterweight bout at UFC 207.
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Dong Hyun Kim and Tarec Saffiedine exchange punches during their UFC 207 welterweight fight.
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Dong Hyun Kim, left, celebrates after defeating Tarec Saffiedine in a welterweight fight at UFC 207.
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Ray Borg punches Louis Smolka during their flyweight bout at UFC 207.
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Ray Borg puts a choke hold on Louis Smolka during their flyweight fight at UFC 207.
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Ray Borg (right) reacts to his victory over Louis Smolka (left) after their flyweight bout at UFC 207.
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Antonio Carlos Junior kicks Marvin Vettori during their middleweight bout at UFC 207.
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Antonio Carlos Junior throws a right-handed punch at Marvin Vettori during their middleweight bout at UFC 207.
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Johny Hendricks, left, and Neil Magny trade punches during their welterweight bout at UFC 207.
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Johny Hendricks (top) punches Neil Magny during their welterweight bout at UFC 207.
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Tim Means (blue trunks) takes down Alex Oliveira during their welterweight bout at UFC 207.
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Tim Means (blue trunks) grapples with Alex Oliveira after taking him down during their welterweight bout at UFC 207.
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Mike Pyle tries to evade a punch by Alex Garcia during their welterweight bout at UFC 207.
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Alex Garcia reacts after defeating Mike Pyle in a welterweight bout at UFC 207.
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Niko Price (top) attempts to submit Brandon Thatch during their welterweight bout at UFC 207.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images) 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?”
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
