Dominick Cruz returns vs. Casey Kenney at UFC 259

Dominick Cruz is taking his first three-round fight in many years at UFC 259.

The former bantamweight king will return at UFC 259, and will not be fighting in a five-rounder for the first time in over six years. According to a report from MMA Junkie, Dominick Cruz will meet Casey Kenney at the March event.

Cruz (22-3, 5-2 UFC) returned from a three-and-a-half year hiatus in March when he stepped in on very short notice to fight then-bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo. He was stopped in the second round of that bout, the first TKO stoppage of his career. Despite entering the UFC over nine years ago, he has competed just seven times in the Octagon due to a variety of serious injuries.

Kenney (16-2-1, 5-1 UFC) is on a three-fight winning streak, most recently taking a decision over Nathaniel Wood at a catchweight in October. The former LFA champ picked up his first performance bonus in that bout.

Cruz is currently ranked at number ten at bantamweight. Kenney is currently unranked, but is right on the cusp of the list.

UFC 259 will go down on March 6th at a location to be determined. A headliner for the card has not been confirmed yet, but two other intriguing bouts are set for the event - Thiago Santos vs. Aleksandar Rakic at light heavyweight, and Joseph Benavidez vs. Askar Askarov at 135.