When Dominick Cruz steps into the Octagon against T.J. Dillashaw on Sunday night for the chance to reclaim his bantamweight title, it’ll be a feat of perseverance. In the last four-and-half years, Cruz has fought just once. That was an explosive cameo at UFC 178 against Takeya Mizugaki, whom he finished in 61 seconds via TKO. That was in 2014.
And that came on the heels of two ACL procedures and a torn groin. Since then he’s suffered yet another ACL tear, and undergone yet another lengthy rehab to get back.