Dominick Cruz confirms UFC Seattle will be final fight, explains why | The Ariel Helwani Show

[@HJRC_]

Should've been Aldo vs Cruz. Rob Font is such an anticlimactic end to such a legendary fighter. WIsh you health and the best of luck 🐐

[@DynastyIcon]

can only take what you've been offered.. some fights just wasnt meant to be.. Jon vs Francis, Khabib vs Tony, add Cruz vs Aldo to that list

[@wisdomincoming12]

Aldo at BW is not exciting at all. At fw his volume was lacking sometimes but at BW he’s unwatchable

[@devenpfund3806]

It’s bad in a world of drugs/ostarine and high inflation, Rob Font won’t get knocked out in Peeatle and if he does, he will not retire nor will he be let go of his contract😉

[@dav2762]

@@DynastyIconJon and Francis will happen someday Turki will make it happen

[@rejachemno]

Mexico vs Puerto Rico

[@dr.ejazkhan7227]

Look at the face of Ariel, when Cruz said he is defensive 😂😂

[@alonzoasmr]

Dominick Cruz has been one of my favorite fighters ever since his WEC days… so blessed he’ll be in my hometown to cap off a legendary career 😭🙏

[@ianishler6953]

Same brother! You going to the event?

[@Mixed-Media-Arts]

Of course I'm going. Thanks for asking me.

[@Mike-qz4by]

Nope not going to that hell hole. Will watch illegally from lake tapps like i always do😊

[@Torymorgan9]

big miss to not have Dom vs Henry... also love that he's calling Sean Shelby on his twofacedness

[@yunzyleighton8904]

Dominick Cruz, as real as it gets.

[@davidstreet2949]

Please Induct him UFC Hall of Fame.

[@capsulecorpa.t.186]

No doubt

[@slim_ryanfry]

otw

[@mr.brenman2132]

You thought that was up for discussion?

[@markdavis8430]

Hope there’s a day when Don has his own podcast It would be top class ✌️🙏

[@jacobwagner1611]

Bisping and Dom would be a pretty great combo, Anthony Smith seems to be on his way out of Bispings podcast so maybe it could happen

[@markdavis8430]

@@jacobwagner1611 Agree ,,Mike and Dom would be great

[@Sasquatch10]

@@markdavis8430 I'd love that but would be slightly afraid they'd try to end each other every other week 😂😅

[@pointysidedown]

As much as I love Dom Felder is getting that spot

[@jacobwagner1611]

@@pointysidedown You’re right, and bottom line Dom and Bisping would argue too much😂😂

[@Warren-pr7ho]

Dominick Cruz is a legend in the sport. I still remember his WEC fights.

[@Mockracy]

Cruz is 1st ballot hall of famer

[@tomzyhd2171]

Defined a division

[@darrenc9607]

Hope Cruz has a great performance in his finale. Dom is fantastic calling fights, I particularly like when he is on the call with Felder or Sanko. Nice to hear that Mark Smith is always looking for feedback on his work. I hope a lot of MMA refs do the same.

[@capsulecorpa.t.186]

Thank you Dom for this wonderful interview and letting us take a peek into your life and mind. Good luck next month. I love Font, but I’ll be rooting for you

[@redrain860]

Dom's my favorite fighter ever, but I'm almost more excited for the future than his retirement fight with Font. Opening a gym? A KZbin channel? Possible collabs with DJ and Bisping? LFG!

[@redrain860]

It's so inspiring how Cruz defied the odds and became a divisional GOAT despite being cursed with so many injuries and inactivity. 3x Bantamweight champ, 3 title defenses, 5 title fight wins, 10 years of dominance, insane resume(DJ, TJ, Benavidez, Faber, Munhoz). No one has come close (TJ cheated so he doesn't count.)

[@farcry18th]

Dom is one of the few fighters left from the era I started watching. He’s always been a class act, well spoken, and hilariously cocky at times. I couldn’t be happier to say I’ll be in attendance when he retires. Best wishes, Dom. To a great career 🥂

[@EloyGabriel_]

This guy is a well spoken legend. I want to see him go out on top.

[@MrBrockHeinz]

Cruz has had so many great rivalries, Faber, Garbrandt, Dillashaw... basically the whole of Team Alpha Male. But the one he'll be remembered most for is Keith Peterson, his toughest opponent to date.

[@Chillin2Tough]

I heard Cruz is making a new cologne wear named “beer and cigarettes” after this fight, good on him.

[@SHERMA.]

yep, garbrandt vs cruz... one of the most legendary under looked fights ever recorded on tv. garbrandt was trash for the most part of his career but he had such a burning passion for cruz that he entered some flow state and just walked all over cruz. he kept knocking him down then just doing fortnite emotes, it was brutal. i will never forget watching that live.

[@Mixed-Media-Arts]

​@@SHERMA.That is NOT an overlooked fight

[@SHERMA.]

@ maybe not to me and u but to most people it is.

[@redrain860]

​​@@SHERMA.Garbrant had the best performance of his life in that fight, but man do people overrate the hell out of that performance. Cody won 3-2. It's not like he dominated Cruz from start to finish like in say Usman vs Woodley or TJ vs Barao. Cody won 3 rounds very convincingly, then Cruz adjusted and had good championship rounds. Yeah, the tragedy with Cody is that he trained specifically to beat Cruz since he was 16. Since Cruz is so unorthodox, that left Cody with a lot of holes in his game which his other opponents all capitalized on.

[@Sx-xy2zi]

This talk got deep fast

[@JesusSavesandRomeEnslaves]

Always does with Ariel and Dom.

[@skwrrskwr]

"Yeah but no one wants to deal with a defensive person who's always got their guard up" "I'm glad you know that" 💀

[@aviduke]

His trash talking game is brutal

[@lucidethos]

Dom is such an introspective guy and one of the most underrated champs of our time

[@Mixed-Media-Arts]

He's not underrated, bud

[@saulskate100]

Love for Cruz 🙌🏼

[@Cr0wsMurd3r]

After this fight, I hope Dom and Bisping take over the commentator roles completely. Those two and Anik are gold on the mics. Also wish we had gotten more Dom during his "prime years". I got into watching MMA when Dom was the UFC champ(ie when Bantamweight was very new), yet it was years later when I actually got to see him fight. People who are not prizefighters who think they can fight and beat pro-fighters are dumb as rocks, and probably juiced to the gills... which makes them even dumber. That's doubly true for those who think they can beat a top 15 UFC fighter of any division... even a flyweight would beat the breaks off a 280Ib mound of juice muscle.

[@MartialCardist]

Quite literally always unique takes with Dom. You don't get this insight from any other fighter. Dom has always been in my top 3 fighters of all time because of his mind. Truly a special dude that will be appreciated more and more as time passes. I love genuinely intelligent and deep interviews. Dom is in a great place in life and I wish all the best for him whatever happens in the fight.

[@EloyGabriel_]

Dude is smart as hell for getting punched in the head so much

[@EloyGabriel_]

Dom for the win!!

[@JesusSavesandRomeEnslaves]

Dude seems like a weight has been lifted.

[@DangerousDan-ib2gs]

Gotta love cruz I hope he has a great performance and comes back for one more against cejudo or even o malley or aldo

[@aviduke]

It's the end of an era. Cruz was dominant when i started watching UFC (between his injuries). What a career and what a man, a true role model

[@augmentos]

he might honestly be shaping up for a career as an all time great coach with this type of self reflection and pragmatic realism plus experience. He has the ingredients of an all time coach, but is he interested and can he put them together and 'bake a cake'

[@richardtimms6645]

He had a point arial. Call him and have a chat whenever you want, not for clicks and $$$$ on your KZbin channel.

[@jacobwagner1611]

Ain’t that deep, Cruz just busting his balls like he does to everyone else

[@paulw9032]

But when he wasn’t getting money working for other companies it was ok?

[@dy139]

Dominick is actually strong mentally and sharp mind damn

[@LP3me]

Dominick : the way you related starting to fight to military is spot on. That’s exactly how I felt at 18 when I joined. I think that’s why I like watching MMA so much because I can relate to the mindset it takes to fight. And we trained some basic BJJ so I’m aware of the skill level it takes to be good.

[@jasongarcia4246]

Cruz is and will always be a class act... He for sure needs to be in ufc hall of fame. His fight with garbrandt even though he lost showed his grit and heart

[@dillionwade8755]

Our beloved Dom 😞

[@katelyn9182]

Noooooooooo 😭😭😭😭 I don’t want Dom to retire!! He is such a great ambassador the sport. I could listen to him talk all day! His interviews are legendary! Such a hero to me!

[@datboyjoshua]

I feel the same way Father Time sucks

[@adamdygnarowicz5127]

Cruz, Felder, Anik is my favourite comentators team.

[@liosmani9353]

Frank mir was amazing too

[@raphaelb.2350]

"Pick it up, cause you're at the end" - D. Cruz - love it!

[@JohnJDNB]

Man I love Dom!

[@dy139]

First 2 min of their interaction was low key low blows, Dom shots fire with I’m glad you admitted it to yourself and Ariel coming back with first questions what would change about yourself ? 😂 damn these 2

[@sharkymcsharkface]

Hope he gets his favourite ref Keith Peterson for his last fight 😅

[@OtTheGoldnChild]

That opening exchange was golden. Dom is a gem

[@TheM16riot]

UFC failed not making that aldo vs cruz fight

[@saulskate100]

Mark Smith is a great ref, he has done great while reffing in so many fights leading up to this past weekend, sad that te is being judged so harshly for one mistake, which technically was the right thing to do per the rules. Yes he should’ve let the fight continue one more second, but he has done more good than bad as a ref, by far.

[@Rob.S-]

I always looked at Dom as the Roy Keane of MMA. Pure winner’s mentality.

[@shantanusengupta1749]

Within the first 2 minutes Dom put Ariel in his place by trapping him in his own twisty words sheesh 😂😂😂

[@humansymbiote]

Legend

[@chainyrabbit]

Dom was the one who got me into MMA. I thought it was a mindless sport till i heard him explain it and been a fan ever since

[@primitive2924]

Dominik will always be a Legend. The best of an era, hopefully he gets out winning.

[@danielson6797]

Doms in a great place mentally if his body can hold up I think he'll have a terrific performance against rob.

[@ConnectedToUniverse]

Always knew Dom was a smart man, but this brings a new insight on his intelligence!

[@GhostC01MMA]

If i ever run into Sean Shelby or Mick Maynard i am giving them Hell for not making Aldo V Cruz it's a absolute joke man

[@brandonm5295]

Some of the most beautiful footwork in MMA history from Cruz. Always liked watching him scrap.

[@svtperks2027]

I would’ve loved to see Cruz versus Cody at this point in time but sadly, we will never get a part two

[@jaysonwallace7865]

He shouldn’t have to explain why. Dudes been there and done that. Got the tshirt and wore that shit so long. Bro has a great job as a commentator and analyst he doesn’t need to fight. Still excited to see him in the octagon.

[@jonathanhollier3314]

Dom is a legend 💯 He’ll be missed but love him as a commentator! IMO best ever bantamweight when he was at his peak 🐐💪

[@smokebreakmma6524]

I would have chose Aldo for his last fight. But I love Cruz. Legend gets thrown around a lot but he’s a legit legend.

[@dreadkage6630]

Why not Aldo?

[@DynastyIcon]

i called Dana and he said it wasnt offered

[@dreadkage6630]

@ thanks for that. I was wondering 🤔

[@anthonyhewitt9397]

HALL OF FAME. 🎉🎉🎉

[@Oladipo3000]

Dom’s little digs are hilarious 😂

[@samxpoatan4272]

love dom

[@newenglandlofi4195]

Would love to see some instructional from Cruz on KZbin. Dynamic Striking would be great too with his footwork!

[@newenglandlofi4195]

Just realizing he already did Dynamic Striking but I’d love to see a second round of it

[@29_XXIX]

Shogun was my all tiem favorite fighter with Cruz as my second favorite. It's a shame to see your favorite fighters get old especially when you remember them at their best. Font isn't an easy fight, for this version of Cruz, but hopefully his Cruz's retirement fight goes better than Shogun's did

[@justinwells9163]

Dom Cruz is the man!! Living legend

[@sirjohnrambo]

I wish Dom was not fighting Rob Font for his last fight. He’s an absolute legend and deserves a better send off match up. Aldo would have been the best but also a Cody rematch would have been cool too. I’d even like to see him fight Henry or Suga although they are both probably to high in the rankings. Regardless of his opponent I wish him well and hopefully Cruz gets to ride off into the sunset with a W. I’ve been a big fan since his WEC days and if he didn’t have so much bad luck with injuries he would be in the goat conversation with Jon Jones, GSP, Anderson and Might Mouse

[@huntersreptilehouse1383]

So they fucked us on the Aldo Fight

[@TheSavageGentlemenShow]

Cruz the GOAT

[@ghagzor]

Wish it was aldo but if he can go out on a win that would be cool too.

[@nickmorris9311]

40 minutes of Dom LFG

[@joondagoon6774]

I knew Cruz would retire on the west coast 😂

[@e-co123]

Cruz VS Swanson would have been fun

[@jasonred3874]

Font for his final fight is rude 😭 i was expecting something else 😕

[@ShrimpAlfr3do]

Dom vs Suga or Corey woulda been dope for his retirement fight.

[@xHARDCORE5150x]

Also Vs Cruz will never happen FFS goddamn matchmakers

[@funonvancouverisland]

Maybe in a sloppy boxing match when they are in their mid 50s

[@thinkingserpent]

I would of like to see him fight Cody Garbrandt or Urijah Faber as his last fight.

[@alexseuser4035]

Cruz always drops bombs

[@tayloryoung4848]

THE REAL OG 135 GOAT DOM CRUZ TUCSON BUILT SAN DIEGO MADE

[@mattlogue5642]

Dom we all like to hear from you too bro that’s prolly why Arielle likes to get certain people on more for the world to also hear. I’ll be at climate pledge rooting for you!

[@liosmani9353]

Tom cruise of mma

[@chasec8381]

Thank I Cruz for returning again without getting me a single fight I wanted to see from u . Very unnoticeable end to ur career. None of the big fights. Aldo, Henry, Cody tj

[@slim_ryanfry]

20:11 DAWG fr 😅

[@AbisKitchen2020]

I love how Ariel got cooked at the first minute of the interview 😂

[@RyanJamesDuffy]

1:52 Always projecting.

[@madhalodog21]

Shout out to CASA GRANDE MY HOME TOWN

[@retlawseel]

that cut is going re open for sure

[@IS-bo2po]

The bridge of his nose ?

[@retlawseel]

@@IS-bo2po brow

[@seanoxborough5830]

Why come back? Daft question,, errrrr money duhhhh, dom is a great fighter, so many injuries, so awkward, , footwork is unreal,

[@tdog1983-v6c]

Cmon dom. Let it go, u still make good cake working for the ufc. Shouldn’t be fighting after the chito ko

[@_hola_0101]

Bantamweight GOAT PERIOD!

[@Camelolivegreen]

What an interesting interaction to watch high. 💨🌲

[@tigrider]

The dominatore

[@qbob5]

Dom Cruz should fight until 60 yrs old pls. Because commentating is not for him - PLEASE DONT CALL FIGHTS ITS SPOILS IT FOR US ❤ Great fighter!

[@KellyKenney-xz8ec]

If refs or judges screw up they should lose money just like the fighters do. Performance based.

[@MetalSolidCrisis]

If Aldo didn't want to fight cruz, then I might be okay with not getting the Conor rematch ngl

[@ZPSBestProfileName]

"Usually, the answer “My greatest weakness is that I'm a perfectionist” is meant to turn attention away from any real flaws. To deflect any possible negativity. Beyond job interviews, perfectionism is trying to serve the same purpose. It deflects possible judgment by others." Yuck

[@joondagoon6774]

lol that’s why Ariel threw that shot saying over the years 😂

[@DivineMortal1999]

Retirement? MMA fighter? *Jake Paul has entered the chat*

[@MrJol420]

I didnt know he still faught 😂

[@georgefarrow7]

Shouldve been Jose Aldo

[@slim_ryanfry]

17:00 :(

[@retlawseel]

fav mma personality his vendettas are hilarious its a shame he has to be so corporate. Who the fuck mentions ripping nails ?

[@xacex6944]

But was Conor trying to gas Khabib out tho?

[@rickymendoza6173]

Please don’t get sparked Dom , please .

[@dincosic]

I thought he was already retired

[@rejachemno]

Ariel has gotten worse when it comes to being defensive 😂. Still respect him though. Just wish he would stop bickering with anyone who talks negatively about him

[@justinporter9136]

Ariel don't run

[@tdog1983-v6c]

Wow listen to don nickel and dime and talk about the money he won’t make if he does this if he does that. Even dom is needing his money