Dominick Cruz is a what might have been career. Sure, he is a two-time bantamweight champion - but his time in the octagon has been limited by injury setbacks causing cancelled fights.
Famed for his unorthodox movement, powerful wrestling base, quick striking, takedown defence and his tendency to attack from angles in a unique fashion, 'The Dominator' is unlike any other fighter on the UFC roster.
He first won the WEC bantamweight title in March 2010, then won the inaugural UFC Bantamweight Championship. After defending the belt twice in 2011, Cruz was sidelined by injuries in 2012 and subsequently stripped of the title in 2014.
In 2016, he regained the bantamweight championship with a split-decision win over T.J. Dillashaw. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night honors, and many observers called this victory the greatest comeback story in MMA history.
Unfortunately, Cruz has not fought since December 2016 due to recurring injury problems.
FIGHT STATS
Name: Dominick Cruz
Weight: 135lb/ 61kg/ 9st 6lb
Height: Five-foot-eight
Reach: 68in (173cm)
Stance: Orthodox
Years active: 16
Record: 22-2
BMI: 20.5
INJURIES
1: Double ACL Injury
Whilst coaching season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter and training to defend his UFC bantamweight title against Urijah Faber, Cruz was injured during a training session where another fighter on the mats accidently buckled his knee, blowing out his ACL. He spent the entirety of 2012 on the shelf due to the injury.
Late in 2012, Cruz reinjured his knee during light training, putting him out of action for another 12 months.
2: Hands
Cruz has managed to injure both his left and right hand, in the exact same way and in the exact same place. Following his fight with Scott Jorgensen at WEC 53, he had to get surgery on his left hand where the tendon was completely ripped off the bone and his finger would pop out of its socket. His knuckle would also dislocate, stopping him from creating a fist.
Surgeons had to re-attach the ripped tendon and then add an extra piece of tendon to help brace the hand. Then after defeating Demetrious Johnson at UFC Live: Cruz vs Johnson, he injured his right hand in the same way meaning he required the very same surgery.
3: Plantar Fascia Tendinitis
Following the loss of his bantamweight crown to Coby Garbrandt at UFC 207 Cruz revealed that he was plagued by plantar fascia tendinitis throughout training camp that made it difficult for him to walk at times.
4: Arms & Shoulders
Injuries have since caused Cruz to withdraw from two fights - due to face Jimmie Rivera at UFC 219 he suffered a broken arm in fight camp, then a shoulder injury caused him to cancel a fight against John Lineker at UFC 233.
