Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has suffered another major career setback.
Dominick Cruz is unfortunately no stranger to lengthy layoffs due to major injuries. Now 33 years of age, the former UFC bantamweight champion has been once again forced to shave off at least a year from his fighting career.
Cruz had to withdraw from his scheduled fight against John Lineker at UFC 233, who he has already apologized to. He also spoke to ESPN, where he revealed he had suffered two torn ligaments in his right shoulder during a sparring session.
”It’s basically an ACL of the shoulder,” Cruz said of his injury.
Cruz has been riddled with career-threatening injuries since 2011, suffering three ACL tears. Prior to this latest injury, he also dealt with a broken arm that pulled him off his scheduled matchup against Jimmie Rivera at UFC 219 in December 2017.
As he stated in his recent Instagram post, Cruz recognizes that these constant injuries will be forever part of the legacy he will be leaving behind.
”It’s just part of my journey, and it’s going to be part of my legacy, these injuries.”
Cruz last fought in December 2016 at UFC 207, where he dropped the UFC bantamweight title to Cody Garbrandt via a unanimous decision loss. It marked his first defeat since 2007, when he lost to Urijah Faber via first-round submission at WEC 26.