For Dominick Cruz, it would appear the hard part is over. Just making it into the cage at UFC 178 was a victory for the former bantamweight king. After then going on to steamroll Takeya Mizukagi within a matter of seconds, it almost felt like Cruz had gone 2-0 for the evening.
There have been few upsides to the 29-year-old’s absence, but one was the opportunity to watch him break down the minutiae of the fight game, giving us a fresh appreciation for Cruz’s mind for violence.
But boy was it good to see him back putting both his mind and body to its best use.
In truth, no one really knew what to expect from Cruz after almost three years on the sidelines. We are constantly reminded by UFC President Dana White that “ring rust is a real thing,” so it was difficult to imagine any fighter returning after such a lengthy absence and picking up right where he had left off.
As a member of the media, you always want to try and remain outwardly objective. However, it was difficult to not openly root for Cruz to make a successful return to the cage.
Most wanted him to look something like the fighter from 2011, even if that seemed like a fantasy. More improbable still was what actually transpired.
Cruz surpassed his previous self, making our ambitious expectations appear modest.
Impressive though he is, few would have considered the former champion “dangerous.” With only one legitimate stoppage in his previous 10 fights, Cruz’s record supported the prevailing perception that he is an extremely effective point fighter.
It’s hard to know whether Cruz was being propelled by sheer adrenaline at UFC 178, but he seems to have added a more aggressive dimension to his game, in addition to a few extra watts of power in his fists.
Perhaps it was just a product of the occasion, but one can only hope that it’s a lasting change to “The Dominator’s” game.
Those of you who frequent Bleacher Report MMA likely know that we put out “X Fights for ‘Fighter A’ to Take Next” articles after these events.
With his performance Saturday, Cruz effectively took that option off the table. There is only one fight to make, and publishing a slideshow that consisted of a solitary slide probably wouldn’t have endeared me to my editor.
The fact that Cruz didn’t lose his title in the cage is reason enough to give him the next crack at current 135-pound champion T.J. Dillashaw. His demolition of Mizukagi merely reinforces the need for that fight to happen as soon as possible.
The good news? Dana White has already announced his intention to put that fight together. The only real question left is when and where it takes place.
If both men fight up to their potential, we may bear witness to the quintessential mixed martial arts bout.
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