Report: Cruz pulls out of UFC Seattle bout vs. Font due to injury
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz was forced to bow out of his presumed retirement fight against Rob Font at UFC Seattle on Feb. 22 due to an injury sustained during training, sources told Uncrowned's Drake Riggs.
The UFC hasn't found a replacement for Cruz but does intend to keep Font on the card, Riggs reports.
Cruz (24-4) was scheduled to step back into the Octagon for the first time since suffering a fourth-round knockout to Marlon Vera in August 2022. He won his prior two bouts against Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz in 2021.
Injuries have derailed the future Hall of Famer's career since 2011. Cruz sustained three ACL tears and a quad tear following his second title defense against Demetrious Johnson. Nagging shoulder ailments have plagued the 39-year-old in the latter stages of his career.
"The Dominator" has established himself as one of the top broadcast analysts in the promotion during his hiatus from action.
Font will await a new opponent. The ninth-ranked fighter in the 135-pound division walked away with a unanimous decision victory over Kyler Phillips in his most recent fight last October.
Former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo will go toe to toe with Song Yadong in the card's main event.