Former WEC, UFC Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz Retires From MMA

One of the greatest Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters in the history of the sport is deciding to hang up his gloves.

Ex-UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz (24-4) was slated to return to the Octagon against Rob Font for his final MMA bout at UFC Fight Night 252 on Feb. 22. “The Dominator” sustained a shoulder injury and withdrew from the match on Wednesday. Rather than recover and attempt to rebook the Font matchup, Cruz elected to say farewell to the sport on Thursday. He will still remain as a color commentator and analyst for the UFC.

Posting on Instagram, Cruz wrote a farewell message detailing his recent setbacks and thanking those involved in his career.

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”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”

The all-time great bantamweight introduced himself to the MMA masses on the major stage when he battled Urijah Faber at WEC 26 in 2007. Although he succumbed to a guillotine choke from “The California Kid” in under 100 seconds, this lit a fire under Cruz that prompted him to win his next 13 outings including two rematches with Faber. Along the way, Cruz snared the WEC throne from Brian Bowles at WEC 47 in 2010, and he went on to defend it twice before the company merged into the UFC later that year.

As the inaugural UFC beltholder—a distinction he earned in the WEC’s final event, beating Scott Jorgensen to claim that new crown—Cruz defended that strap two more times, a record broken in 2023 by Aljamain Sterling. On that dazzling run, Cruz outfoxed opponents like the aforementioned Faber, Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw and Joseph Benavidez. Although he surrendered the belt in 2016 to Cody Garbrandt, Cruz remained at the top of the 135-pound category thanks to victories over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz. In his final professional outing, Cruz suffered a head kick loss to Marlon Vera in the main attraction of UFC on ESPN 41.