The only thing stopping Dominick Cruz, it seems, is himself.

Having had everything he earned in the Octagon so cruelly taken away by injury, he ripped it right back in Boston.

He was anointed the new bantamweight champion but really it looked like that tag had never left him as he edged a split decision against T.J. Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night 81.

From a technical standpoint, it was a joy to behold as these two skill-rich fighters danced under the lights. And from a contextual viewpoint, it doesn’t get much better.

Nobody in MMA has been tested by perennial injuries quite in the way Cruz has.

In fact, very few athletes across all of sport have gone through the level of despair and disappointment the undefeated bantamweight has dealt with in the last four years.

Three ACL tears have been compounded by broken hands and a torn groin; restricting him to just 61 seconds of fighting in that time.

It forced the former UFC and WEC 135lbs king to relinquish his crown and in his stead Dillashaw dominated. He’s looked phenomenal but the question always lingered, what would happen when Cruz returned? The answer? Be nullified and frustrated.

Defence is an understated art in combat sports but when it’s displayed as beautifully as it was from Cruz, you can’t help but applaud.

Few fighters train and prepare for battle like the 30-year-old, he anticipates every kick, counters every punch and if he could be as elusive with injury as he is in the Octagon, then we could see one of the most formidable champions in UFC history.

But make no mistake, it was a razor-thin win. Had it been Dillashaw victorious few would have argued and it’s the kind of fight that often leads to an immediate rematch. Cruz was at his slick countering best in the first three rounds but even then Dillashaw landed.

Statistically, he had more success than anyone ever has against Cruz in the past. Of course, he was swinging wildly and missing plenty but when he found his rhythm Dillashaw caused damage. That’s something of a win in itself.

The championship stanzas seemingly went the former title holder’s way. He asserted his power, became more aggressive and a vicious right leg kick in particular had Cruz wincing.

It wasn’t enough, though, and when the final bell sounded it was Cruz who scored the split decision.

And it speaks volumes of his mental fortitude. Tom Cruise may have been the lead in Mission Impossible, but it was Dominick who performed the real thing.

What he did on Monday morning is bordering on incomprehensible. People just don’t return from what he went through, in that form.

Ring rust? It just doesn’t exist in the bullet-proof mind of Cruz.

“I was the only one who was going to make me retire,” he said. On this evidence, he’s right.