UFC
UFC Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz could be out up to 18 months after knee surgery
Jun 20, 2012 - 6:45:56 PM UFC Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz could be out up to 18 months after knee surgery

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz was forced out of his scheduled rubber match with Urijah Faber on July 7 when he tore his ACL last month. According to Ariel Helwani on Tuesday's UFC Tonight program on Fuel TV, the Champ underwent surgery on the knee on June 6.

The UFC immediately booked an Interim Bantamweight Championship bout, pitting Faber against Renan Barao initially at UFC 148, then shifting it to UFC 149. The winner of that fight will also likely be defending it once or twice before Cruz is able to return.

In addition to news of Cruz's surgery, Helwani reported that the typical recovery time for an athlete undergoing this surgery is anywhere from nine to 18 months. With that much of a timetable, Cruz has no idea how long he'll for sure be out of action. Still, Helwani said the Champ is in good spirits after the surgery, and believes he's already ahead of schedule.

Penick's Analysis: Because he hadn't fought since last October, the UFC going to an Interim Title fight made plenty of sense. Considering he'll be out a minimum of 17 months, the decision was a no-brainer. Whomever emerges the Interim Champion between Faber and Barao in July will be able to fight likely two more times before Cruz returns for a bout to unify the titles. It will be one of the only times the Interim Title actually has any legitimate use outside of a promotional tool, as the division won't be entirely held up like the welterweight division currently is.