It marked the unceremonious end to an all-time great’s career.
Marlon Vera on Aug. 13, 2022 cut down two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight titleholder Dominick Cruz with a perfectly timed head kick in the fourth round of their UFC on ESPN 41 main event at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. Referee Herb Dean waved it off 2:17 into Round 4, as Cruz suffered just his second knockout loss in his 28th and final professional appearance.
Vera dropped the Alliance MMA linchpin with a counter left hook in the first round but otherwise struggled to pin down his elusive adversary.