Heading Into Renan Barao Fight, Has Dominick Cruz Been Stalling?

UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz will make his long awaited return at UFC 169, marking the end of a two year lay off that has seen ‘The Dominator’s’ division change vastly. A series of injuries and surgeries have left the former WEC boss inactive and allowed Renan Barao the time to become Interim champ and clean out the weight class.

Cruz has received his fair share of flack for leaving the division topless for such a time, although it doesn’t seem like he had much choice in it, right? Well, Dana White disagrees. He claims Cruz could have easily returned sooner, but has chosen not to. Check out what the UFC Prez had to say to reporters at the UFC 167 PFPC on Thursday:

“I think that Cruz has kind of been stalling. I think Cruz has dragged this out longer than needed to be. I think he’s working extra hard on working off the ring rust,” White said. “Doing the things, that, this just came to our attention a few weeks ago, that Cruz possibly could have fought much sooner. Which makes the fight even more interesting.”

Ring rust is certainly becoming less of a factor in big comebacks now days; where before guys would return ASAP and often lose, it seems that ring rust recovery is being worked on during recovery. We saw GSP return from a lengthy period of absence to beat Carlos Condit last year, Anderson Silva has also done the same.

“I don’t f— blame him,” White said. “Do you want to take two years off and then face Renan Barao?”

“Cruz hasn’t lost a fight in six years,” he said. “Barao hasn’t lost a fight in eight years. He’s on a 30-fight win streak. Cruz is on a 10-fight win streak. That’s a fight, man. Barao goes in and literally destroys people. Cruz has a style where he can pick you apart and make you look bad and win fights. I love that fight. “

It’s true that Barao is certainly a scary prospect, especially after such a long injury period. Cruz is used to dominating with his footwork and technicality, whereas Barao is just a wrecking ball trying to smash you.

UFC 169 could get the year 2014 off to a great start, giving it a chance to live up to the amazing standards set by 2013 in MMA thus far. Will we see the Interim boss finally lay claim to his rightful title, or will ‘The Dominator’ prove that ring rust is a thing of the past?

If Cruz is able to beat Barao, it may prove to be the most prudent two year absence in the history of sports; especially if you consider that DW’s comments imply there is a strategy being implemented during the recovery.