Issue 194

February 2021

Who is the greatest bantamweight of all time? There is a short list of bantamweight GOATs in such a young division that started life in the WEC and grew wings when the UFC merged the now-defunct promotion's divisions into their main lineup.

The division has been graced with some phenomenal talents including Renan Barao, TJ Dillashaw, and Cody Garbrandt, to name just a few. But, when discussing the topic of the bantamweight GOAT, there is little doubt that Dominick Cruz dominates the conversation.

Cruz entered the UFC as the promotion's first 135-pound champion, but would go on to suffer a succession of injuries that forced him to relinquish the title and step away from the sport for three long years as his career hung in the balance.

Cruz defied the odds in 2016 when he made a remarkable return to defeat TJ Dillashaw and recapture the 135-pound title for a second time. He eventually dropped the title to an inspired Garbrandt, before yet more injuries put Cruz on the shelf for another three heartbreaking years.

Once again, Cruz battled his way back to fighting fitness, but this time there was no fairytale return as he fell to a second-round TKO defeat to then-champ Henry Cejudo at UFC 249.

But, despite enjoying unparalleled success at 135 pounds despite suffering more than six years' worth of injuries, Cruz isn't finished yet.

"The Dominator" is scheduled to return to the octagon on March 6 against Casey Kenney for the featured preliminary card bout at UFC 259. The choice to put Cruz in the featured prelim slot is an interesting one, given that he hasn't fought outside of a main card since UFC 178 back in 2014. Cruz remains a household name among the lower weight divisions and, at 35 years of age, is far from a man in his twilight years. Kenney is riding a respectable three-fight win streak and holds a notable victory over veteran Ray Borg. But Cruz represents a huge leap up in class for the rising prospect. It almost feels like the UFC is giving Cruz a bounceback opportunity before throwing him back in with one of the division's top contenders.

It will be interesting to see what adjustments Cruz has made to his game following his back-to-back losses to Garbrandt and Cejudo. His loss at UFC 207 might be more down to Cody’s unbelievable performance. Cruz was also reportedly plagued with injuries throughout camp that may also have compromised his performance. Skip ahead to UFC 249, and leg kicks were a clear factor in his loss to Henry Cejudo, as the champion slowed down Cruz's signature footwork. That eventually led to a perfectly-placed knee that put the former champion out on his back. 

A successful comeback at UFC 259 seems likely for Dominick, but victory over Kenney wouldn’t scratch the surface of the competition that lies ahead. The division has undergone a serious transformation during Cruz's time away, with a long list of dangerous contenders now vying for a shot at the gold. However, his biggest commercial opportunities lie with his rivalries with Dillashaw and Garbrandt. It is a bitter love triangle where everyone holds a victory over the other, and a rematch with either could place another tier on Dominick’s legacy tower.