It seems like Dominick Cruz has spent more time in the hospital than he has at home… but all that is about to drastically change.
The former champion suffered not one, but two knee complications. Then there was a pesky groin injury. The ailments cost Cruz to step away from the Octagon, but the fighter will finally makes his return at UFC 178: Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 on September 27.
While the UFC community is wondering if ‘The Dominator’ will return in the same dominating fashion we are used to seeing him in, according to Cruz, he is even better.
“It was about two, three months ago maybe, tops? I was completely cleared,” Cruz said of his doctor’s approval to begin full training on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “They were just saying that everything’s strong with the quad [muscle] and that I could start picking up the training. Once they cleared me to start picking up the training, then I started easing my body into it. That way I wouldn’t go too hard or re-injure something else. It’s been a process, but now my body’s at full strength. I’m doing everything I need to and I’m very confident in myself and the durability of my body.”
Cruz went on to say that he actually feels stronger now than he ever has and credits his training for being the reason why he feels ready to reclaim his status as one of the best fighters in the world.
“I trained,” Cruz said. “I’m very passionate about what I do and I enjoy working out. So, to be able to work out progressively at a higher and higher pace, harder and harder, it just relieves me. It makes me feel better as a human being. It makes me feel more alive. It was just to be back to me again. I didn’t really care about anything other than being allowed to go in there and fight people in the gym. Once I together a month of solid training, two months of solid training, I was like, ‘Man. I’m back. I’m feeling great. I’m feeling sharp. I’m feeling fast.'”
Credit: MMAFighting.com
