UFC legend Dominick Cruz has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) due to a persistent injury. The 39-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest bantamweights in history, had been forced to withdraw from his final fight against Rob Font on February 22.
Cruz cited two shoulder dislocations in eight months as the reason for his decision to hang up his gloves. He wrote on Instagram: “I have poured every ounce of myself into this sport for the last 25 years… Two shoulder dislocations in eight months calls an end to this guy’s career.”
The San Diego native will be remembered for his innovative fighting style, which involved constant movement and high-volume striking. Cruz won the WEC’s 135-pound championship in 2010 and became the UFC’s first bantamweight champion in 2011.
Despite struggling with injuries throughout his career, Cruz achieved some remarkable milestones, including reclaiming the title in 2016 and earning a final shot at UFC gold against Henry Cejudo in 2020. He remains on the shortlist of candidates for greatest bantamweight of all time.
Cruz has also worked as an ESPN analyst and UFC color commentator for several years, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s most respected voices.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/43725242/dominick-cruz-ufc-first-bantamweight-champ-retires-mma