Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has not fought since December of 2016, when he surrendered the title to then-undefeated challenger Cody Garbrandt.
Absences of this kind, of course, are unfortunately nothing new for Dominick Cruz. The former champion has fought just five times since 2011.
The good news for Cruz’s dedicated fans is that he is still plotting a return to the Octagon — and potentially quite soon.
Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, the 34-year-old former champion announced that he’s hoping to mount a comeback in the third or fourth quarter of this year.
Speaking on the show, Dominick Cruz also discussed the upcoming fight between reigning flyweight champ Henry Cejudo and streaking bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes, which will crown the new bantamweight champion now that TJ Dillashaw has relinquished the divisional title.
He sees Moraes as the favorite in the matchup, and believes the Brazilian would make a great champion in the division.
“I think Moraes would be a great champion for the division,” Cruz said.
Who do you want to see Dominick Cruz fight in his return to action? Where do you think he fits into the title picture in the bantamweight division? Join the conversation in the comments section!
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 4/15/2019.