Legendary bantamweight fighter Dominick Cruz has been announced as the first addition to the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2026, and fans can’t contain their excitement.
The announcement came toward the end of the prelims portion of the UFC 324 broadcast. ‘The Dominator’ (24-4) is considered by many to be one of the greatest bantamweight champions of all time.
Check out Dominick Cruz’s UFC Hall of Fame announcement below:
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Suffice it to say, the MMA fandom has unanimously embraced the addition and flooded social media celebrating Cruz.
@TheRingKingKC wrote:
“Deserved bantamweight goat.”
@greasemeta chimed in:
“Congratulations, Dominick Cruz! A super champion legend! Thank you!”
@MasculineCodeHQ opined:
“One of the toughest careers ever. Injuries would’ve ended most fighters. Cruz adapted and still became a legend.”
@jenneticsrr added:
“Congrats to ‘The Dominator’! Well deserved, always been a true professional in every sense. Top 10 all-time UFC fighters for me.”
Check out a few more comments below:
Cruz began his professional career with a split-decision win over Eddie Castro in 2005. He then went on a nine-fight win streak before suffering his first loss to Urijah Faber during their WEC featherweight championship fight in 2007.
In 2010, Cruz defeated Brian Bowles to win the WEC bantamweight title. The California native later avenged his loss to Faber in his UFC debut in 2011, entering the fight as the promotion’s bantamweight champion following the WEC’s absorption into the UFC earlier that year.
‘The Dominator’ then successfully defended the belt against future flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson in the second fight under the banner.
Cruz defended the 135-pound strap three times over two reigns before suffering an upset loss to Cody Garbrandt in 2016. A lengthy layoff followed, but he returned in 2020 against Henry Cejudo. Cruz compiled a record of 2-2 from 2020 to 2022 before calling it a career last year due to lingering issues stemming from his past injuries.
Cruz has now settled into a broadcasting role with the promotion and is one of the UFC’s primary additions to its commentary and analyst desks.
Edited by Ujwal Jain
