Home

UFC

“I’m Not Gonna Lie Of Course It’s Depressing”- Dominick Cruz

Published 05/21/2020, 12:11 PM EDT

Follow Us

Conceding a loss in a fight often leaves fighters feeling empty and morose. Even more so if the loss comes at the biggest stage in the world. Dominick Cruz has been feeling the blues as of late, following his major setback at UFC 249.

Mental health is usually at the back of a fighter’s mind. It has long been trivialized and taken lightly. It is something that is hardly ever addressed. However, mental strain exacts a heavy toll on fighters and athletes.

The media often makes it worse for the fighter. Probing fighters with a series of invasive questions, often without considering their state of mind.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Many have frequently been criticized for the same. However, it is the way of things around the MMA circuit and there are no visible signs of any kind of change in the near future.

It is no surprise that Dominick Cruz has been down lately. He opens up about the same, while in conversation with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.

Nonetheless, Cruz sports a rather healthy attitude towards this phenomenon. He believes in facing the media head-on at once.

“I like to face these media scrums immediately. Just get one and done, Ariel. So I like to just get one statement out, ‘Boom! Here you go, people. This is how I feel. This is where I’m at. I’m okay.’ But I’m not gonna lie, of course. It’s depressing, it’s sad. It’s not what you want,” explains Dominick Cruz.

What has Dominick Cruz feeling this way?

With the UFC bantamweight title on the line, Dominick Cruz took on Henry Cejudo in the co-main event at UFC 249. The fight took off just as one would expect, with punches and kicks flying everywhere.

Cejudo absorbed a series of attacks from The Dominator. He eventually nullified Cruz’s movement by incessant leg kicks. The constant barrage of attacks effectively disrupted Cruz.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest UFC stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

The second round saw the 35-year-old finding his rhythm. However, it was rather short-lived, for a hard knee from the King of Cringe sent Cruz to the mats. The strike dazed him and everything went downhill after that.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“It’s not how I saw it. It wasn’t how I slated it. You don’t expect [it]. There’s more to fight. And I knew I had it. So that leaves that question burning, forever. And that’s just not what you want. Because I know I was on my way up. And I know I was coherent,” said Dominick Cruz.

It is no surprise that this loss has left the bantamweight stalwart with a wide array of issues, mental and physical. In addition, the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and the series of issues it has brought along with it leaves no room for respite.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

However, with everything that Cruz has to say, it seems like he has been making a sound recovery.

How do you think mental strain affects fighters?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Vinayak

389Articles

One take at a time