Dominick Cruz isn’t carried out but.
The best Bantamweight of all time has been out of motion since a tricky fourth spherical knockout loss to Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC San Diego in August 2022 (watch highlights). Cruz has redemption in thoughts for his inevitable return to the Octagon, however not in opposition to Vera.
Sadly, Cruz isn’t any stranger to prolonged layoffs because of quite a few critical accidents all through his legendary profession. The 39-year-old’s loss earlier than his most up-to-date got here after one in all his lengthiest durations away when he suffered a second technical knockout in an try and reclaim the Bantamweight title in opposition to Henry Cejudo in Might 2020. Now that Cruz’s fellow former champion has ended his retirement that got here instantly after their conflict, a rematch could be a dream come true.
“There’s a Mexico Independence Day card arising [in September for UFC 306] and I misplaced a battle,” Cruz stated on the Overdogs Podcast. “I look again at my loss and I misplaced it truthful and sq. to Henry Cejudo, however I do imagine he may get a greater model of me and actually face a greater model of me.
“I’ve had rematches in opposition to [Joseph] Benavidez, I’ve had rematches in opposition to Urijah Faber, I’ve had rematches in opposition to that entire Crew Alpha Male the place I needed to take every man out, step-by-step, with the intention to hold my title. So, I might love a rematch with Henry Cejudo on Mexican Independence Day in The Sphere. I believe we may make a fairly superior battle there.”
Cejudo will even look to rebound each time he fights subsequent after consecutive determination losses to Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. Cejudo, 37, not too long ago referred to as out Rob Font, however nothing has developed since.
Ought to Cruz get his desired rematch in opposition to Cejudo, it could be solely the second time in his 28-fight profession (24-4) he’s fought somebody he beforehand misplaced to. The primary was the aforementioned Faber, who he defeated by unanimous determination of their second and third bouts after Faber scored an early guillotine win in battle No. 1.
