UFC: Could this former World Champion be returning to the octagon?

In recent times, the UFC have relied heavily on the return of established stars and pre-made main eventers in order to sell PPV’s for their biggest main events. With Former Welterweight Champion and future UFC Hall of Famer George St. Pierre leading the way by returning in 2017, winning the Middleweight World Championship against Michael Bisping before vacating the belt and re-entering into retirement having made a small fortune. The UFC also have a giant clash between Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier and returning superstar Brock Lesner for the illustrious strap in the works. This trend shows no signs of stopping as a certain UFC World Champion plans his return.

But who?

Well, if rumours are to be believed then Former Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz is planning to return to the Octagon. Cruz plans to make his return before the end of 2018 in an attempt to relive former glory.

Cruz last fought in the UFC in 2016 in a match where he would lose his Bantamweight crown to bitter rival Cody Garbrandt. Since Cruz’s last fight the landscape of the division has changed and opens up the potential of an interesting three-way feud between the current champion, TJ Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt and Dominick Cruz.

All three men have no love lost for one another and have all taken to battle against one another in the past. The intrigue lies in the fact that all three man have lost to a different member of the trio in the past, which could, depending on how result fall, arise questions about who the best really is. As it stands Dominick Cruz has a decision victory over current Champion TJ Dillashaw but Cruz also has a humbling loss on his record to Cody Garbrandt. However, Cody has two knockout loses on his record to TJ Dillashaw, the man who Dominick Cruz defeated prior.

The return of Dominick Cruz would open up an interesting power dynamic within the division with each man being able to claim bragging rights over a different fighter within the trio. The power vacuum could spell exciting times ahead for the division and for UFC fans.