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More Injury Heartbreak For Hard Luck Former UFC Champion Dominick Cruz

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By @RickLaFitte

 

Dominick Cruz celebrates after making triumphant UFC return against Takeya Mizugaki

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Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has been dealt yet another crippling injury blow. “The Dominator” announced via Facebook and Twitter that he has suffered an ACL injury to his right knee. The news couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the former titlist was headed for a showdown against current 135-pound champion T.J. Dillashaw in his next fight.

Cruz made an emotional and triumphant return at UFC 178, after a nearly three-year absence, by destroying tough Japanese contender Takeya Mizugaki in the first round. He took out the frustrations of his bad injury luck and of being stripped of his title on Mizugaki during a blistering 61-second knockout victory. After the spectacular performance, UFC President Dana White indicated that Cruz would be getting the next title shot. Unfortunately, those plans have now been scuttled.

The talented 29-year-old is one of the bantamweight division’s top performers, but has only been able to compete once since October of 2011. He made two successful title defenses against Urijah Faber and Demetrious Johnson before being sent to the sidelines due to a pair of ACL tears in his left knee and a groin tear. He was finally stripped of his belt when he was forced out of a unification title bout against then-champion Renan Barao at UFC 169.

He showed absolutely no Octagon rust in his return against Mizugaki, but now will be looking at another lengthy recovery. Cruz has set no timetable for his return.

It’s an unfortunate turn of events for a fighter who has been one of the most hard luck injury stories that the organization has seen. “The Dominator” has won 11 straight fights and has an impressive 20-1 career mark. He avenged his only career loss against Faber by defeating “The California Kid” at UFC 132. Superior athleticism, lateral movement and crisp striking skills have been his calling card. Cruz’s mental toughness now gets put to the test once again with this latest setback.

Cruz answered all of the questions surrounding his lengthy layoff in resounding fashion with his Performance of the Night effort at UFC 178 in September. He certainly has the skills and perseverance to work his way back into the title picture down the road. It’s just a real shame that Cruz hasn’t been afforded the opportunity to showcase his elite skills on a more consistent basis.

Rick LaFitte is an MMA Writer for Rant Sports

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