Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Dominick Cruz after UFC on ESPN 41 loss?

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Marlon Vera after UFC on ESPN 41 win?)

Dominick Cruz’s run back to the top was derailed Saturday when he was knocked out by Marlon Vera in the UFC on ESPN 41 main event.

Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC), a two-time UFC champion, came into the bantamweight headliner against Vera (20-7-1 MMA, 14-6 UFC) looking to make himself a contender to fight the winner of the UFC 280 title fight between Aljamain Sterling and T.J. Dillashaw. But instead, he was halted with a fourth-round head kick at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

With his title hopes dashed, Cruz finds himself at a crossroad. The 37-year-old was up on the scorecards before the finish, but does he have the energy to make another push up the rankings when he previously claimed it was “pointless” to fight if he couldn’t win gold?

Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Cruz’s future after UFC on ESPN 41.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 41.

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Twitter reacts to Marlon Vera's head kick KO of Dominick Cruz at UFC on ESPN 41

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie