Dominick Cruz is calling it a career. After an injury forced him out of UFC Fight Night 252, Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) announced his retirement Thursday in a lengthy, heartfelt post on social media.

Cruz’s second reign as champion ended in December 2016, as he lost a decision to Cody Garbrandt in a surprisingly one-sided fight. That defeat, courtesy of an iconic performance by Garbrandt, marked the end of Cruz’s nine-year winning run.

The former UFC men's bantamweight champion announced his retirement from MMA competition in a social-media post on Thursday. According to Cruz, the same injuries that had forced him out of what was to be his final professional fight at a UFC Fight Night event in Seattle later this month had also pushed him to hang up the gloves for good.