Dominick Cruz’s Planned UFC Farewell Never Happened
In November 2024, Dominick Cruz said he hoped to return for one last fight in early 2025. The former two-time UFC bantamweight champion was looking for a farewell bout after his August 2022 loss to Marlon Vera. Cruz later booked a matchup with Rob Font, but a shoulder injury ended those plans and his career.
The planned farewell
Cruz told MMA Fighting in November 2024 that he wanted one more walk to the Octagon. In January 2025, he said he was approaching a planned fight with Rob Font as a retirement bout. The matchup was set for UFC Seattle on February 22. MMA Fighting reported Cruz’s initial plan and later his planned bout with Font.
Why he retired
On February 6, 2025, Cruz announced that he was retiring after dislocating his shoulder twice in eight months. He withdrew from the Font fight before it took place, so the bout never became his final appearance. His last fight remained the 2022 fourth-round knockout loss to Marlon “Chito” Vera. The UFC’s retirement announcement recounts his decision and career.
Cruz’s career included two UFC bantamweight title reigns, a long absence caused by injuries, and a return to win the championship in 2016. In 2026, the UFC named him to its Hall of Fame class. His hoped-for farewell fight did not happen, but the career he built before retiring remains his legacy.
Which moment stands out most from Cruz’s career?
