Dominick Cruz Returns from 2-Year Layoff, Meets John Lineker at UFC 233 on Jan. 26

A previously rumored bantamweight bout pitting Dominick Cruz against John Lineker is now official for UFC 233.

The promotion announced the pairing on Wednesday. UFC 233 takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Jan. 26 and features a flyweight championship clash between Henry Cejudo and T.J. Dillashaw.

The 33-year-old Cruz hasn’t competed since losing the 135-pound belt to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207 in December 2016. A broken arm forced “The Dominator” to pull out of a proposed bout with Jimmie Rivera at UFC 219 last year. Prior to facing Garbrandt, Cruz had won 13 consecutive bouts dating back to March 2008.

Lineker enters the fight on a two-bout winning streak at 135 pounds. The Brazilian’s last flyweight appearance came at UFC 207, where he dropped a three-round verdict to Dillashaw. “Hands of Stone” is 12-3 during his tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion overall.