Injuries have long been the silent force behind the fall of many legendary fighting careers. From José Aldo to Anderson Silva, countless champions have eventually succumbed—not to opponents, but to their own bodies. Dominick Cruz was no exception. “I was on borrowed time after the first dislocation,” Cruz admitted when asked about his retirement. Though a return was in the works, his body ultimately had other plans. Realizing it was time to prioritize his long-term health, Cruz chose to step away from the Octagon for good.
Months have passed since that decision, but the MMA world hasn’t forgotten one of its most celebrated champions. As he continues his recovery journey, Cruz has been met with a wave of fan support. While undergoing shoulder rehabilitation, the former bantamweight king was swarmed by supporters, offering warm words and encouragement.
Cruz shared a video of the moment on Instagram, along with other clips documenting his rehab process. Judging by the footage, the former champ appears to be progressing well on the road to recovery. Back in February, Cruz was set to make his comeback against Rob Font after a three-year hiatus following his 2022 loss to Marlon Vera. He had been preparing intensely but ultimately chose to withdraw and announce his retirement, ending his storied career on his own terms.
Speaking on The Anik & Florian Podcast, Cruz opened up about the reality of his injuries. “I had one dislocation about eight weeks before the one I posted. That kind of set the stage for me—like, ‘Okay, I’m on a different kind of timeline than just age,’” he revealed. “I still felt fast, I still felt good… then your shoulder just falls out.”
He continued, “I rehabbed it for six weeks straight. Then I sparred with Jeremy Stephens and some pro boxers to see where I was really at—and I did great. I felt strong, nothing went wrong. That’s when I booked the fight and they offered me Rob Font.”
Despite being sidelined by back-to-back injuries, Dominick Cruz has never turned down a single opponent. His resume speaks volumes and proves that he’s someone who truly brought the bantamweight division into the spotlight. Cruz’s head coach, Eric Del Fierro, in his recent escapade, has explained what made the former champion a special individual.
“He’s always been a phenomenal athlete,” said Eric Del Fierro on Dominick Cruz
Dominick Cruz is often regarded as one of the greatest bantamweights to ever step into the Octagon. Despite being plagued by injuries, the Alliance MMA fighter consistently made remarkable comebacks. After defending his title against Demetrious Johnson in 2011, Cruz was forced to vacate the belt due to injuries. He returned three years later and stopped Takeya Mizugaki in the first round at UFC 278, only to face further setbacks due to recurring injuries.
After a second series of injuries, Cruz returned to the Octagon once again in January 2016 to dethrone T.J. Dillashaw and become a two-time UFC bantamweight champion. His career has been nothing short of a story about a man who dared to challenge all adversities. Talking to MMA Junkie Radio, Cruz’s head coach Eric Del Fierro heaped praises of him, “He’s always been a phenomenal athlete.”
He further added, “I think Dominick’s biggest strength has always been his mindset. He’s never let the naysayers or the crowd influence who shows up to fight. Like any athlete, you have doubts. You have fears. I think his mindset was he was able to overcome all those injuries and get through it and still show up to fight and still win and be at the top of the game for so many years. I think now transitioning into something else, he’s still embracing that mindset and willing to pass that onto up-and-coming fighters as well.”
It’s worth noting that Dominick Cruz has spent a significant portion of his career as a UFC commentator, and he may continue in that role after his retirement. With that in mind, what are your thoughts on the former bantamweight champion? Share your opinions in the comments below.
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