When the UFC aired Dominick Cruz‘s retirement package at UFC Vegas 103, fans were livid. For a man in the bantamweight GOAT conversation, fans felt that the closed doors and limited attendance of the Las Vegas Apex was not the best stage to receive the final bow. And for anyone who thought his Hall of Fame announcement would make up for it, UFC 324 ruined those hopes even worse.

Cruz’s career has always held an emotional weight. It was not just about wins and losses, but years wasted due to injuries, comebacks that defied logic, and a style that changed the course of an entire division. So, when his Hall of Fame nomination was announced during the UFC 324 broadcast, many expected the moment to linger a little longer. Instead, it blinked and disappeared into a commercial break.

UFC gets called out for ruining Dominick Cruz’s Hall of Fame moment

The announcement itself matters. Dominick Cruz will enter the UFC Hall of Fame’s modern wing, joining names who have shaped eras, not just divisions. His resume speaks for itself: record-breaking title reigns, seven championship wins in the WEC and UFC, and a legacy based on movement and intelligence.

However, the broadcast never let that weight settle, and the frustration truly boiled over. Fans noticed the cut right away. “They cut to commercial when he was getting his flowers from two other legends,” wrote a user. Another didn’t try to dress it up: “lol at Paramount+ cutting off the desk and giving Dominick Cruz his Hall of Fame flowers.”

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For some, it felt completely disrespectful. “Paramount+ said f— Dominick Cruz,'” one fan stated, while another put it simply: “Wish they showed it.” The anger wasn’t just about Cruz. It was about the feeling that moments like this are becoming throwaway.

With a new broadcast partner and a focus on a slicker presentation, fans felt the human side was overlooked. A Hall of Fame announcement is more than just content; it’s history. Cutting away made it seem rushed, transactional, and hollow. Still, the respect for Dominick Cruz himself never wavered.

In addition to the criticism, praise flowed in. “100% deserving,” one fan wrote. More fans chimed in: “He’s the second-best bantamweight of all time. Deserved.” Another said it simply: “Well deserved.” Well, it seems like fans are at least happy with the fact that the former bantamweight champion is joining the likes of Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Amanda Nunes, and others.

And in the end, Dominick Cruz’s legacy did not suffer—but the broadcast did. The moment will live on regardless, carried by highlights, memories, and the fighters he influenced. Fans just wanted the sport to slow down long enough to say thank you properly. After all, this was a moment that many had been hoping for. In fact, even Dana White had claimed that the former champion’s Hall of Fame induction was something long overdue.

Dana White fumbles the execution despite claiming “honor” in the induction

That’s where the true disconnect is. Dana White did not undersell Dominick Cruz; his words were strong, respectful, and exactly what fans wanted when the press release was made public. The UFC CEO stated that inducting him would be an “honor,” as the press release quote read, “Dominick Cruz is one of the greatest bantamweights in combat sports history.”

He further added, “Dominick was an amazing athlete who set the standard for bantamweights, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.” Well, it seems clear that the problem was not intent. It was the execution. Legacy cannot be used as a quick check box in between segments.

Cruz built a division, missed years due to injuries, returned, and reclaimed gold when most others had written him off. Wins over Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson, and a title recapture against T.J. Dillashaw were more than just wins; they were chapters in a long, uneven struggle with time and bad luck. That kind of story doesn’t land when it’s rushed.

That’s why the frustration stuck. White was correct: the induction was long overdue. Fans agree. Moments like this require more than the right quote—they need patience. Slow the broadcast down, and let the respect linger. Dominick Cruz earned that pause, and when it didn’t happen, it wasn’t his legacy that suffered. It was the presentation.