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Former UFC rival criticizes Dominick Cruz after injury, ‘Wish I would’ve retired him'

Originally posted on MMA on SI | By Chris De Santiago | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 11:53 AM ET

Henry Cejudo says he would've been livid if Dominick Cruz pulled out of their fight next weekend.

Fortunately for Cejudo, the former two-division champion wasn't scheduled to face Cruz at UFC Seattle and will instead meet Song Yadong in the main event. Cruz, a former foe of his from 2020, had been set for his final fight in the co-headliner against Rob Font - one he was forced to withdraw from.

Cruz blamed the cancellation on a shoulder injury, later announcing his MMA retirement at 39 years old, never to fight again.

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Cejudo Reacts To Cruz Retiring Off Injury

If you know the two-time champ, you know Cruz's career has been doused with multiple injuries and surgeries over the years, most notably two ACL tears between title reigns.

"I would've been so f*****g p***ed dude if they would've set me and Dominick Cruz up and next, this dude's pulling out," Cejudo said on Pound 4 Pound Podcast. "Dominick Cruz, I don't think he really understood how to train. I don't really understand that he really knew how to really take care of his body, 'cause he was injured the majority of his career. "

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"I'm talking about years upon years, he was probably more injured than the years that he actually fought."

While on the UFC roster, Cruz was inactive through the following years: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025.

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Cejudo Pays Cruz His Dues

Cruz returned from a four-year layoff in 2020 to an immediate title fight with then-champ Cejudo. This would be Cejudo's retirement fight (at the time), TKO'ing rival Cruz in the second round.

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"I thought we squashed the beef when I put that knee upside of his damn head. But that being said, I will say something nice about him," Cejudo continued. "He did a lot for the bantamweight division and particularly the lower weight divisions. I gotta give him credit for that... he was able to get victories from some of the biggest names. You gotta put Dominick Cruz up there. A lot of people will say he is the greatest bantamweight champion of all time."

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With one more injury for the road and Cruz's last dance cancelled...

"It's unfortunate 'cause nobody wants to say, 'Oh, I retired because of injuries'...He never really figured it out," Cejudo said of Cruz. "Dominick has done a lot, dude for the sport he's a good analyst. I'm not gonna say great. We had our rivalry and I put my knee in his face and I wish I would've retired him, but apparently I didn't. But congratulations, 'Dominick Snooze.'"