One of many UFC’s modern-day greats says he’ll bow out of the Octagon at UFC Seattle.
Former undisputed UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has confirmed that his upcoming bout in opposition to Rob Font on the UFC Battle Night time occasion on February 22 might be his final.
Cruz appeared on the ESPN present Good Guy/Bad Guy, the place host Daniel Cormier requested him outright if his upcoming bout with Font can be his ultimate struggle.
Carmen Mandato/Getty Photos
“For me, it’s,” Cruz replied.
“Not due to my mentality, not due to my ability set, as a result of I misplaced my final struggle, however I used to be in that struggle each minute of the struggle, and after I acquired completed, I used to be going for the kill.
“It wasn’t a kind of conditions the place I used to be bowing out of the struggle. I used to be within the struggle, attempting to kill the man, and I damage myself, after which that led to the end finally.”
Extra information: Former UFC and WWE Champion Ronda Rousey Welcomes Birth of Second Child
On the age of 39, Cruz stays assured that he has the talents to combine it with the most effective bantamweights on the planet, however he revealed that his ongoing battle with accidents has taken its toll, with the onerous yards spent in struggle camp proving to be more and more troublesome for his physique to deal with.
“The abilities are nonetheless there. It is only a matter of all of the accidents and stuff,” he defined.
“Can I maintain them collectively to get by way of the camp? The camp’s the onerous half – everyone knows that. It is probably not the struggle. If I needed to struggle in a single week I’d get there wholesome, however my physique may not be as prepared because it must be. However I acquired a six-week camp to arrange myself (for Font) and I’ve executed a nine-month chunk of time to ensure my physique can deal with that.”
Cruz is broadly thought-about to be one of many biggest MMA bantamweights of all time. He captured the UFC’s undisputed 135-pound title twice, and was the final World Excessive Cagefighting (WEC) bantamweight champion previous to the group being absorbed by the UFC in December 2010.
In 2012, Cruz suffered a torn ACL that required surgical procedure, however problems arose when his physique rejected the substitute ligament from a cadaver, leaving him on the shelf for a number of extra months after having to endure a second surgical procedure.
His return was then additional delayed after he tore his groin previous to his deliberate comeback struggle. That prompted Cruz to vacate the UFC bantamweight title to let the division transfer on whereas he centered on returning to combating health.
After three years away from the game, Cruz returned to motion in September 2014 and claimed a first-round knockout of Japanese contender Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 178 to earn the number-one contender spot, and the possibility to problem for his outdated title in opposition to then-champion TJ Dillashaw. However, simply as issues appeared to be enhancing for Cruz, damage struck once more as he suffered one other ACL damage, this time to his different knee.
After 16 extra months on the sidelines, Cruz returned to the Octagon once more in January 2016 and defeated Dillashaw through break up determination to finish a outstanding profession comeback as he recaptured the title he by no means misplaced within the cage. He adopted up that win 5 months later with a unanimous determination victory over his longtime rival Urijah Faber as he defended his title at UFC 199.
Extra accidents adopted as Cruz misplaced his title to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207, then suffered a controversial TKO loss to Henry Cejudo in a bantamweight title struggle that Cruz nonetheless disputes to this present day.
Cruz, who can be one of many UFC’s most important colour commentators, has gained two of his final three and can make the stroll to the Octagon for the ultimate time on February 22 as he seems to complete his 20-year profession in type by claiming his twenty fifth profession victory.
For extra on MMA, head to Newsweek Sports.
