It doesn't seem like an injury that could keep him out for any significant length of time, but everyone's collective breath will probably be held anyway.
Dominick Cruz said on the Fox Sports 1 post-fight show that he felt a pop in his heel during the fifth round against T.J. Dillashaw on Saturday night in the main event of UFC Fight Night 81 in Boston. That explains the limp he was showing as the fight ended.
"It's extremely painful," Cruz said. "That's the best way I can put it. That's why I started limping a little bit."
It didn't matter, though. Cruz won anyway, beating Dillashaw by split decision (48-47, 46-49, 49-46) to regain the UFC bantamweight title. Cruz never lost the title to an opponent. The belt was stripped due to injuries two years ago. This was only his second bout since 2011.
Cruz said he suffers from plantar fasciitis, but didn't want to talk about it before the fight because he didn't want to sound like he was complaining. Plantar fasciitis is an irritation of the foot tendons.
"I didn't want to talk about it, because I don't like excuses," Cruz said. "If people are going to ask me, now I have to talk about it."
Dillashaw landed a handful of leg kicks in the fourth and fifth rounds. Cruz was noticeably limping in the fifth and then after the fight was walking around gingerly. Cruz, though, said it was because of his lingering heel issues and not anything Dillashaw did. "The Dominator" said he stepped wrong in the fifth round and "felt it pop."
"I didn't feel it until the fifth round," Cruz said.
In the post-fight press conference, Cruz reiterated that it was definitely not another injury to his knee. The Alliance MMA product has had three ACL surgeries and a groin tear in his time off. Cruz said plantar fasciitis is a common ailment among athletes and wishes he could have wrapped his feet.
Furthermore, Cruz said he doesn't believe the tendon is sore—it's just wear and tear after a tough fight.
"It's a normal thing," Cruz said. "It'll heal. It'll be fine."