Two-time UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is calling it a career after withdrawing from UFC Seattle due to a reaggravated shoulder injury.
A bantamweight icon is hanging up the gloves after a fighting career spanning three decades.
Dominick Cruz was supposed to make his return to the Octagon against Rob Font at UFC Seattle later this month. But in his final preparations of fight camp, Cruz suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw from what he called his retirement fight.
Cruz, arguably the greatest bantamweight in UFC history, was set to return to the cage for the first time since a knockout loss to Marlon Vera in Aug. 2022. Before the loss to Vera, Cruz won back-to-back fights in 2021 over Pedro Munhoz and Casey Kenney.
While Cruz treated fight fans to a plethora of memories that will last forever, his career will also be remembered for his various health issues and long absences from the cage. Despite his multiple hiatuses, he was able to compete with the best at 135 lbs and enjoyed multiple bantamweight title reigns.
Amidst speculation about what was next for Cruz after his UFC Seattle withdrawal, the former two-time champion issued a statement to his fans, friends, and family.
Dominick Cruz hangs up the gloves after two UFC bantamweight title reigns
In a recent post to X, Cruz announced his retirement in a lengthy message to his supporters.
“To the fans worldwide,
“I have poured every ounce of myself into this sport for the last 25 years. I was really hopeful for one final fight but unfortunately, two shoulder dislocations in 8 months calls an end to this guy’s career,” Cruz began.
“I gave everything I had and put it into preparation and training for this fight —focusing on my cardio and my body for the past year. But sometimes, the body just doesn’t cooperate.
“The pain isn’t as bad now that my shoulder is back in place, but the second dislocation was far more complicated than the first. This sport has been everything to me—it’s helped to shape who I am.
“Thank you to the [UFC] for building this platform and paving the way for fighters like myself and so many others. The UFC broke barriers to set the stage not just for us as fighters. Also for every mma sports organization that followed them across the bridge created throughout politics in order to allow our sport to take place LEGALLY in the United States and now the world.
“I am incredibly grateful to everyone who booked tickets, hotels, and flights to support me. Thank you all for being there through every moment, every victory, and every challenge. You’ve made this journey unforgettable. Thank you for the love and support. I will carry it with me always.”
Cruz walks away with the second-most title fight wins (4) and consecutive title defenses (2) in UFC bantamweight history. Before making his UFC debut in July 2011, Cruz was a standout in WEC, holding the bantamweight championship while defeating the likes of Joseph Benavidez, Scott Jorgensen, and Urijah Faber.
Next up for Dominick Cruz? The UFC Hall of Fame
Cruz’s rivalry with Faber is one of the most memorable in UFC history. Spanning nearly 10 years, Cruz and Faber fought three times during their careers and helped put the bantamweight division on the map.
Cruz, the inaugural UFC bantamweight champion, defended the belt against Demetrious Johnson before undergoing a three-year absence due to injury. After a win over Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 178, Cruz won the bantamweight belt for a second time by outpointing TJ Dillashaw in January 2016.
After losing to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207 in his second title reign, Cruz eventually made it back to the title shot at UFC 249, losing to Henry Cejudo by TKO. It’s a fight that Cruz still calls the most controversial loss of his career.
During his multiple absences from competition, Cruz established himself as one of the top UFC/MMA analysts on television. After hanging up the gloves, he’s expected to take on more of a prominent role on UFC broadcasts moving forward, and will likely enjoy similar success to what he amassed inside the cage.
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