Dominick Cruz Announces Retirement After Injury Halts Final UFC Bout

Two-time UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, one of the sport’s most resilient and technically brilliant fighters, has retired from mixed martial arts at age 39. The announcement came Thursday via an emotional social media post after a training injury forced him out of his planned retirement fight against Rob Font at UFC Fight Night 252, slated for February 22, 2025.

To the fans worldwide,

I have poured every ounce of myself into this sport for the last 25 years. I was really hopeful for one final fight but unfortunately, two shoulder dislocations in 8 months calls an end to this guy’s career.

I gave everything I had and put it into… pic.twitter.com/2X5fB6NXnZ

— Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) February 6, 2025

“I gave everything I had and put it into preparation and training for this fight — focusing on my cardio and my body for the past year,” Cruz wrote. “But sometimes, the body just doesn’t cooperate.” The injury marks a bitter end to a career defined by comebacks, as Cruz had not competed since a August 2022 knockout loss to Marlon Vera.

A Legacy Forged Through Adversity

Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) leaves as one of bantamweight’s most influential figures. His unorthodox footwork and evasive striking revolutionized the division, first in the WEC, where he became champion in 2010, and later in the UFC after the promotion absorbed the weight class. As the UFC’s inaugural bantamweight titleholder, Cruz defended his belt against Urijah Faber and Demetrious Johnson before a series of knee injuries forced him to vacate the title in 2014.

Cruz/Faber 3 pic.twitter.com/A8keOheCrc

— CombatUnderrated (@ClipUnderrated) June 24, 2024

His 2016 return became the stuff of legend. After three years and multiple surgeries, Cruz starched Takeya Mizugaki in 61 seconds, then reclaimed the UFC title by edging T.J. Dillashaw in a split decision. He defended it once more against Faber before losing it to Cody Garbrandt later that year. Cruz’s career was repeatedly derailed by injuries, limiting him to just 10 UFC appearances over 15 years.

Late-Career Resurgence and Final Act

After a near-four-year hiatus following his 2020 TKO loss to Henry Cejudo, Cruz staged another comeback in 2022 with wins over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz. But a brutal head-kick knockout from Vera in August 2022 left him sidelined until the aborted Font bout. The Vera loss now stands as his final octagon appearance.

Cruz’s career epitomized perseverance. He battled through ACL tears, groin injuries, and a torn quadriceps, often returning sharper despite extended layoffs. His analytical commentary work for UFC broadcasts since 2021 hinted at a seamless post-fighting transition, which he’ll now fully embrace.

Hall of Fame Horizon

While his 7-3 UFC record seems modest, Cruz’s impact transcends numbers. He pioneered the 135-pound division’s rise to prominence and mentored future stars like Justin Gaethje. UFC President Dana White once called him “the smartest fighter I’ve ever met,” a nod to Cruz’s strategic genius.

The MMA community widely expects Cruz’s 2026 induction into the UFC Hall of Fame. As he noted in his retirement statement: “I leave knowing I changed how this sport is played.” For a man who turned defensive movement into offensive art, that claim remains undisputed12.