Today we learned that UFC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will make his long awaited return at UFC 169 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Cruz has been sidelined for over two years due to two ACL tears. The last time he stepped foot in the octagon was at UFC Live 6 where he defended his Bantamweight title against current Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. Although Cruz has been out of action for such a long time he won’t be given an easy test in his return; Cruz will meet current interim Bantamweight champion Renan Barao, who has been ruling the division in his absence.
Back in July 2012, after it was announced that Cruz was injured, Barao would take his place at UFC 149 where he defeated Urijah Faber to win the interim championship which he has since defended twice.
With a Featherweight championship match between Jose Aldo and Ricardo Lamas headlining the event, the title unification bout between the two Bantamweight kingpins will take place in the co-main event slot.
All things aside, hopefully we will see a healthy Dominick Cruz on February 1st so we can find out who truly is the best Bantamweight in the world.