Agreed. I think the Cruz we've seen beats Barao and is too technically skilled. I just would be scared to throw money down on any Cruz fight because it's still hard to tell just how much the injury may have changed his game. I'd like to see the guy go 5 rounds in a live fight before I'd be confident to bet on him.
It's tough because 1 minute performances are absolutely amazing but Cruz is a unique case. His forte was his pace, speed, footwork and the way he'd outwork and exhaust guys over a long fight by being technically superior, moving quicker while landing consistently and at equal if not increasing volume over a long fight. Not many guys can do that, if any. TJ reminds me of him kinda.
Can he still do that after this new injury? I hope so. I know he can if he wants to, but will his artificially repaired body let him?
BTW I'm just throwing these questions out as speculation, please don't take it as a way to discredit Cruz at all. This is just the things I think of in my own head when I think about his return, and the questions I'm dying to have answered. A talent on the level of his doesn't come around often.
It's so sad that he's had to deal with all of this for THIS long. I just can't imagine being a high level athlete and having to sit on the sidelines and just wait, and wait, and wait.. I'm dealing with injuries in my own life and I'm not a UFC fighter and the waiting game kills me. I can't imagine if my entire life was based around training and moving and speed... And you're just waiting, rehabbing, DYING To get back in there.
Like you said.You could see all of that pent up anger and waiting for years in the Mizugaki fight. that's a scary man. I honestly feel like Cruz would've done that to anyone standing across from him that night. TJ, Barao, anyone. His body had healed, he was ready to go and he had a point to prove. I don't think there would be any stopping him on that evening, and I don't care who was in there with him. I'm just nervous about the next come back, each time it has to be so much harder.
Just ranting and thinking out loud. Cruz is an interesting topic I could discuss for days. I hope h completes his career the right way and doesn't end up as a question mark forever. If he never fought again (obviously I think he will) and his lone comeback fight was the Mizugaki one.. Man.. That would just always go down as a gigantic what if. Probably the biggest in MMA history. In fact he still might, because who knows how many great fights he would've had in that 3 years time.
