Longtime UFC fighter Dominick Cruz, a two-time bantamweight world champion, has a made a generous donation to support the Jet Sports Foundation, which helps families and athletes cover costs associated with sports equipment, camps and training at Jet.
Cruz comes from a humble background in Tucson living in a mobile home with his mom, grandmother and brother as a child. He started wrestling in seventh grade and competed all through high school out of Flowing Wells. After an injury his senior year, he lost the opportunity to receive a scholarship to wrestle at Northern Colorado.
He worked as a customer service representative at Lowe’s, and was studying to be a firefighter at Pima Community College before becoming a full-time fighter. He also started training to be a Mixed Martial Arts fighter at that time.
“I would have loved if something like Jet existed when I was growing up,” Cruz mentioned. “But even if it had, I wouldn’t have been able to afford it. That’s why I’m giving back.
“I know there are kids in need, and I want to do my part.”
Although he is retired from fighting, he continues to train. That has included sessions with Olympic wrestler Roman Bravo-Young, who also was raised by modest means in Tucson.
“Roman and I have helped Dominick prepare for UFC fights over the years, and we’ve become close frieds outside of training,” Jet Sports Training owner Bobby Rodriguez stated. “He was even in Roman’s wedding (last month in Tucson). Dominick has never forgotten his Tucson roots, and his support already has changed a lot of lives here.”
Rodriguez added that Cruz is known for his “humanitarian work world-wide.”
“He doesn’t do it for the recognition but the kindness of his heart,” Rodriguez mentioned. “He grew up not with a lot in the Flowing Wells neighborhood, so he feels like it’s his turn to give back.”
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