Dominick Cruz: Flourishing In Affliction

Overcoming adversity while continuing to march forward through life and everything it offers has been the story of the greatest bantamweight of all time. However, with Cruz’s lionhearted last performance at UFC 269, he proved to the world, not to himself, that he still might very well be the best.

“The Dominator” squared off against one of the most underrated technicians in the bantamweight division, Brazilian finisher Pedro Munhoz.

Both men knew the significance of the bout. With almost 19 thousand screaming fans in attendance, creating an epic atmosphere in sin city, Dominick Cruz stole the show by delivering arguably the finest performance in his illustrious career.

Yes, Cruz did get struck early with some impactful shots. Still, the way he responded to adversity was what legends are made of, and even though some might disagree with me calling the performance one of Cruz’s finest, I understand that. However, everything that Dominick Cruz did that night was far from expected.

Let me expand: They say that as you age, the first thing that goes is the legs, followed by reflexes and timing. Dominick’s footwork looked sharper than ever, and the way he disrupted Pedro’s rhythm with his lightning-speed angle shifts and feints froze Munhoz for most of the contest.

Everything “The Dominator” showed in his last outing was marvellous, but what made Cruz’s performance even more impressive was that he looked like the fighter with the bigger calibre gun in the octagon. If there was one built narrative throughout Cruz’s career was him not being a big puncher.

However, even though the two-time bantamweight king won the contest on the scorecards, he did seem like the puncher between both men while competing, which was incredibly impressive since we’ve witnessed the concussive power of Munhoz throughout his career.

Cruz hurt the Brazillian with almost every shot he threw. And the all-star corner of California’s Alliance MMA noticed, and coach Eric Del Fierro made it clear when he told Dominick at the end of the first: “Believe in your power. We’re hurting him too.”

After watching Dominick’s masterful performance, I couldn’t help but remember how emotionally invested I was when he fought Dillashaw to reclaim Bantamweight supremacy. Everyone doubted him back then; look at him now; the more adversity he goes through, the more refined he looks. Incredible.

I believe Cruz has what it takes and beyond to become a three-time bantamweight champion. However, what Cruz is teaching the world is way more potent than simply never giving up.

The long layoffs, combined with the setbacks inside the octagon, to the way Cruz was able to flourish in affliction by becoming the best analyst the sport has ever seen.” The Dominator ” continues to write his journey this Saturday when he meets Ecuador’s most vicious son, Marlon “Chito” Vera.