Dominick Cruz explains how Conor McGregor could use UFC 329 injury setback for a successful MMA return
UFC Hall of Famer Dominick Cruz believes Conor McGregor could stage another comeback despite his injury-ridden defeat at UFC 329.
Dominick Cruz and Conor McGregor are both regarded as bona fide legends in the sport of MMA. The UFC commentator and analyst has lent his support to McGregor in light of the Irishman's injury-ridden loss at UFC 329.
Cruz last competed in mixed martial arts in 2022 and officially retired last year. The ex-UFC bantamweight kingpin was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's Modern Wing this year.
Dominick Cruz cites his own battles against injuries to encourage Conor McGregor for a successful MMA return
Conor McGregor hadn't competed since breaking his left leg in a lightweight clash against Dustin Poirier back in July of 2021. That appearance, which came at UFC 264, was followed by McGregor's return to the octagon at UFC 329 on July 11.
He faced Max Holloway in a welterweight matchup, which headlined UFC 329, and suffered an injury to his right leg that caused him to lose via first-round TKO. He's 1-1 in his series of clashes against Holloway, who immediately called for a trilogy fight.
Meanwhile, McGregor promised to recover and return for his next UFC fight, which would mark the final one on his current deal with the organization.
During a recent conversation with TMZ Sports, Dominick Cruz expressed his solidarity with McGregor. He shed light on his own past experiences of returning from nearly-career-ending injuries.
Cruz stated, "Well, as somebody who hurt myself three years in a row, back to back to back, that's where I learned that it wasn't the training or my body that was the problem. It was my mind, my heart, and my soul that were creating the physical problems in my body. And I think Conor is going to learn that."
He implied that McGregor faces a tough road to return but can pull it off. Cruz explained, "There's no other way to learn it except to go through it. So, you know, I keep him in my best wishes because he's got a hard road coming up. Any time you're injured -- we don't know how bad his injury is."
Cruz suggested that he hopes McGregor hasn't suffered an ACL tear or torn another part of his knee, which generally necessitates a recovery timeline of 9-12 months.
"The Dominator" pointed out that he experienced recovery journeys from significant knee injuries thrice during his career, even coming back to reclaim the UFC bantamweight title.
Cruz indicated that during those injury-induced hiatuses from professional combat sports competition, he learned that you can't return to fighting unless you've gotten your mind, heart, spirit, and lifestyle in line to survive without fighting.
Dominick Cruz sends his good wishes to Conor McGregor after UFC 329
The legendary American MMA star highlighted that a fighter spends only 10 percent of their time inside the octagon and 90 percent outside of the dominion of competition. As such, he feels fighters shouldn't need to compete to keep their life in order.
Cruz said, "So once I got that 90 percent sorted, got my head wrapped around it, fighting becomes the gift, the cherry on top. It's not the thing you need to save you. And I think he (Conor McGregor) will be going through that process."
Furthermore, Cruz affirmed that he'll keep McGregor in his best wishes, adding that if anyone can come back after such setbacks, it's a person like McGregor.
Watch Dominick Cruz's assessment of Conor McGregor's situation below:
