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One prominent ex-fighter has joined plenty of fans in questioning the UFC's decision to play a tribute package on bantamweight legend Dominick Cruz this weekend.
Cruz, who held gold under the WEC banner before becoming a two-time titleholder on MMA’s biggest stage, competed for the last time in the main event of a UFC Fight Night in San Diego back in August 2022. Following a knockout loss to Marlon Vera that stalled his charge back up the ladder, “The Dominator” set his sights on one final bout.
But after a familiar foe in the form of injury away from the cage prevented that being booked until 2025, disaster struck once again last month when it emerged that Cruz had been forced out of his scheduled retirement fight against Rob Font in Seattle on Feb. 22.
Having sustained another serious physical setback, revealed to be a second dislocated shoulder in a matter of months, the 39-year-old confirmed his decision to call time on his active career.
Cruz remains a color commentator for the promotion, and while filling that role at Saturday's UFC Vegas 103 event at the Apex, he watched on as a highlights package from his career was played.
The UFC's decision to air it drew mixed responses, however, with many questioning why a legend like Cruz had his farewell moment take place inside the low-capacity Apex.
And among the most prominent to raise their dissatisfaction was former lightweight title challenger Al Iaquinta.
"Dominick Cruz deserves way more than the apex guy cmon," Iaquinta wrote on X.
Many are wondering why the organization didn't wait another week to play the video during the high-profile UFC 313 pay-per-view broadcast inside T-Mobile Arena.