UFC
Dana White says he'd still give Dominick Cruz a shot at Renan Barao in return if that's what he wants
Apr 21, 2014 - 10:15:54 PM Dana White says he'd still give Dominick Cruz a shot at Renan Barao in return if that's what he wants

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Former UFC Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz still has no clear return date in sight, and every day that passes without an announced bout brings him closer and closer to a full three years or worse out of action.

Despite that lengthy time out of the cage, UFC President Dana White says he'd give Cruz an immediate title shot still when he returns, if that's what he wants. However, he said he'd try to advise against it.

"I, literally, have heard nothing from Dominick Cruz. I don't know what's going on with him," White said after UFC on Fox 11 during a post-fight media scrum (via BloodyElbow.com). "And I don't think after this much of a layoff it would be right to throw him in there for [a title shot], unless he wants it. He was the champ before all this stuff happened to him, and if he wanted to come right back and fight [Barao], then yeah, I'd do it."

"But Barao is one of those guys - man, I just think Barao is so nasty. I'd fight somebody else. If it was me, personally."

Cruz had been scheduled to return at UFC 169 to unify the UFC's Bantamweight and Interim Bantamweight Titles, but when injury forced him out of that card, he vacated the belt and it was awarded outright to Barao.

Penick's Analysis: I've argued for the better part of the last year that Cruz's return should come in a lesser fight than Barao, and clearly that's how it should happen at this point. Yes, he never lost that title, but a two and a half to three year layoff means that, no matter when he's healthy enough to come back, it's impossible to expect him to be the same. It's not fair to expect him to be the same. For his sake as a competitor, he deserves to get a warm up back into competition against a legitimate competitor, but one who isn't the elite of the elite in the division. If he gets back with that, he can move forward towards a fight with Barao from there.