Dominick Cruz (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Dominick Cruz’s road back to the UFC bantamweight championship is one of the more remarkable comeback stories in MMA, and not surprisingly, it’s been a source of inspiration for the fighter’s teammates.

Cruz is a member of the renowned Alliance MMA team in San Diego, California, which is led by Eric Del Fierro. Recently the coach spoke to UFC.com about the team, and while doing so, Del Fierro said this about Cruz:

“His determination and his will to get back in there and compete is admirable and all the guys and girls feed off of it,” Del Fierro said. “Everybody is in there having their own battles going into their fight, so seeing what he went through and his determination to not quit makes everyone work harder and stay with their dream.”

“…We never once doubted that he was going to be back. It was more just following his commitment and saying, ‘If this is our choice where we’re choosing not to retire, we’re 100 percent in.’ Nobody ever sits back and doubts it. We just figured, ‘Okay, we’re coming back and that’s all there is to it.’

Cruz, who has been sidelined with three ACL tears in recent years, reclaimed the 135 title in January by decisioning TJ Dillashaw. At UFC 199 last weekend, he defended the title by earning a UD win over rival Urijah Faber.