Dominick Cruz reveals ideal return date and opponent: ‘We could make a pretty awesome fight’

Dominick Cruz isn’t done yet.

The greatest Bantamweight of all time has been out of action since a tough fourth round knockout loss to Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC San Diego in August 2022 (watch highlights). Cruz has redemption in mind for his inevitable return to the Octagon, but not against Vera.

Unfortunately, Cruz is no stranger to extended layoffs thanks to numerous serious injuries throughout his legendary career. The 39-year-old’s loss before his most recent came after one of his lengthiest periods away when he suffered a second technical knockout in an attempt to reclaim the Bantamweight title against Henry Cejudo in May 2020. Now that Cruz’s fellow former champion has ended his retirement that came directly after their clash, a rematch would be a dream come true.

“There’s a Mexico Independence Day card coming up [in September for UFC 306] and I lost a fight,” Cruz said on the Overdogs Podcast. “I look back at my loss and I lost it fair and square to Henry Cejudo, but I do believe he could get a better version of me and really face a better version of me.

“I’ve had rematches against [Joseph] Benavidez, I’ve had rematches against Urijah Faber, I’ve had rematches against that whole Team Alpha Male where I had to take each guy out, step by step, in order to keep my title. So, I would love a rematch with Henry Cejudo on Mexican Independence Day in The Sphere. I think we could make a pretty awesome fight there.”

Cejudo will also look to rebound whenever he fights next after consecutive decision losses to Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. Cejudo, 37, recently called out Rob Font, but nothing has developed since.

Should Cruz get his desired rematch against Cejudo, it would be only the second time in his 28-fight career (24-4) he’s fought someone he previously lost to. The first was the aforementioned Faber, who he defeated by unanimous decision in their second and third bouts after Faber scored an early guillotine win in fight No. 1.