A victorious Dominick Cruz (photo via UFC / FOX)

By FCF Staff

Although Dominick Cruz is facing another lengthy stint of time on the shelf, on account of another injury, the storied fighter vows he’ll be back.

Cruz was booked to fight John Lineker next month, but the UFC’s former bantamweight champ has injured his shoulder and will need to undergo surgery. As a result, Cruz could be sidelined for months, possibly a year.

Recently Cruz spoke with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, and while discussing the setback, the 33-year-old said this (quotes via MMA Fighting):

“With all that being said, how I feel is sadness. Extreme sadness, to be honest. It hurts. I want to cry. But I also know that this is a long road that I’ve had already. I’ve already been down this, I’ve had these injuries. You can attack whatever you want to this situation but it never defeats me and it never will. It’s just part of my journey and it’s going to be part of my legacy. How many people go through life with problems and have to get back up? Life is no different from fighting and that’s why I love fighting so much. Sport is a metaphor to life. . . You never get to quit in life so if you quit in sports, exactly when you quit in sports is exactly when quit at life.”

“I’m not the greatest bantamweight of all time despite my injuries,” said Cruz. “I’m the greatest bantamweight of all time because of my injuries.”

Due to injuries, Cruz has fought just four times now since 2011.