Dominick Cruz didn’t get his first selection of comeback opponent, however he’s completely happy nonetheless.
Subsequent month, Cruz returns to motion after when he faces Rob Font within the co-main occasion of UFC Seattle on Feb. 22. It’s Cruz’s first battle in 30 months and for the previous bantamweight champion it’s a possibility to lastly get again to doing the factor he loves.
“I’ve been eager to take a battle, however I did have to get my physique so as,” Cruz advised GoodGuy/Bad Guy. “It’s no secret I’ve had numerous accidents in my profession. So, I like to verify I’m prepared not and simply take one thing once I’m harm. I don’t have to battle that manner anymore.
“Up to now, once you’re champ, once you’re No. 1 contender, you’ve simply received to remain within the line as a result of persons are going to take your spot. I’m already not within the top-five, so let’s say I fought three extra, they’re nonetheless in all probability not going to offer me a title shot. So I simply take the battle when it comes and when it suits.
“I get pleasure from preventing. I’m from the period the place you didn’t receives a commission a ton to battle, you simply loved preventing and that’s why you normally began. I get pleasure from preventing and I’m going to do another.”
Whereas followers will certainly be completely happy to see Cruz again within the cage, the matchup is an surprising on. Most thought that if Cruz would return it might be a long-awaited bout with Jose Aldo or maybe a rematch with Henry Cejudo, however as an alternative Font received the decision. Based on Cruz, Cejudo was his first selection however he gave up on that when it grew to become clear that “Triple C” wouldn’t run issues again with him.
“I don’t have any particular factor besides the UFC requested me to take a battle on quick discover. I’m making an attempt to do them a favor, too,” Cruz stated. “… However on the identical time, I needed the Henry battle, I needed rematches. They weren’t going to offer it to me. So, I’ve been coaching actually exhausting in Mexico Metropolis and I’ve simply been making ready my physique to remain prepared so I don’t must prepare, and look ahead to the correct alternative. When the correct alternative will get requested of me, I can take it or I can’t. Effectively, they’re not giving me — Henry received’t take that battle. He simply received’t. In order that they put him on the identical card with me, which is humorous to me. …
“I don’t know why Henry wouldn’t rematch me, I actually don’t. The one factor I might consider is I, with my phrases, actually embarrassed him so much and he in all probability doesn’t wish to undergo that once more. That’s the one factor I might consider. However we’re going to battle on the finish of it so I figured he may like that. …
“I believe that’s the one purpose he didn’t wish to take it, the speaking, the banter. As a result of what else would there be? I’m one of the vital well-known guys within the division, we’ve historical past, there’s a narrative there, we each come from Arizona. There’s so much there, so the one factor I might consider was he didn’t wish to take care of the speaking, the banter.”
Cruz and Cejudo fought for the bantamweight title at UFC 249, with Cejudo successful by way of second spherical TKO. Following that bout, Cejudo retired from MMA, although he returned in 2023, shedding his two bouts since coming again. Now, Cejudo faces Song Yadong in the primary occasion of UFC Seattle, however Cruz doesn’t consider issues will get heated between them on battle week.
“That dude runs from me like I’m the plague, belief me,” Cruz stated. “He doesn’t discuss to me, he doesn’t wish to take a look at me. If we’re going to simply get within the octagon and battle, sure, he’ll do this, however all of the stuff earlier than that, he doesn’t need something to do with me. …
“He doesn’t have the psychological acuity to speak clearly and that’s simply a part of it. It stifles him as a result of he’s cringy. And he’ll look much more cringy making an attempt to speak with me. So it’s simply higher to place that to the aspect, let’s let Dominick battle anyone else, and to be sincere, I like Rob Font. There’s numerous respect I’ve for him as a human being, no matter what he’s performed in preventing, and I understand how harmful he’s.”
Whereas nothing is about in stone, Cruz is approaching this as if it is going to be his retirement battle, simply over 20 years since his MMA debut. And as issues stand proper now, even a second shot at Cejudo received’t change the previous champion’s thoughts.
“Henry can’t do something,” Cruz stated when requested if that may hold him from retiring. “If I wish to embarrass Henry, I’ll do it proper in his face proper there earlier than the battle or after the battle. I simply want this battle as a result of I wish to show in opposition to an excellent opponent — among the finest opponents on the planet, he’s High 10 — that I’m nonetheless that good, too. I’m right here to problem myself. It’s not exhausting to seek out Henry. I’m from Arizona. If I wish to go to his battle fitness center and beat him up there I can present up there, too. What, are they going to inform me to get out? They’ll be completely happy to allow us to throw down.”
UFC Seattle takes place on Feb. 22 at Local weather Pledge Enviornment.
