Former two-time UFC champion announces retirement | MMA News
Former two-time bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz anticipated to struggle one more time and had booked his retirement struggle. Cruz was slated to face Rob Font on Feb. 22 at UFC Fight Night 252 however was pressured out of the bout as a result of a shoulder damage. That information got here on Wednesday. A day later the 39-year outdated introduced his retirement from preventing in a size assertion posted to social media.
“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.
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.
With love, Dominick”
To the followers worldwide,
I’ve poured each ounce of myself into this sport for the final 25 years. I used to be actually longing for one last struggle however sadly, two shoulder dislocations in 8 months calls an finish to this man’s profession.
I gave all the things I had and put it into… pic.twitter.com/2X5fB6NXnZ
— Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) February 6, 2025
Cruz captured the 135-pound championship in March 2010 at WEC 47. He defended the belt twice earlier than the struggle promotion was introduced below the UFC umbrella. After defending his UFC title towards Demetrious Johnson in October 2011, Cruz vacated the championship as a result of a number of accidents and surgical procedures.
He return three years later to secured a title shot with a knockout win over Takeya Mizugaki. Before he might struggle for the championship he was pressured to vacate, Cruz suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him for 16 months. When he did return in 2016, Cruz recapture the bantamweight title and defended it. He final fought in August 2022, dropping to Marlon Vera by knockout. His profession blended martial arts document will stand at 24-4.
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