UFC Bantamweight King Dominick Cruz To Undergo Finger Surgery

It's tough times being a champion, especially if you're Dominick Cruz.

He's been rather impressive since making the drop to the Bantamweight class in 2008 and posting up a four-fight win streak that led him to his date with destiny—and then-Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles—at WEC 47.

Unbeknownst to many, the first title defense Cruz made sometime after—the long-awaited WEC 50 bout he had with Joseph Benavidez, which was a rematch of the three round battle they had at WEC 42—saw Cruz selflessly putting the paying consumers who supported the WEC product before himself and fighting through an injury he suffered during camp in preparation for his familiar foe.

Rather than postpone his bout with Benavidez until a later date, Cruz opted to face Benavidez with the injury, fully aware of the fact that the injury to his left index finger might have a noticeable effect on his striking game.

ESPN.com reports that months after that five-round trip to Hell and back, and almost a full month removed from successfully becoming the first official UFC Bantamweight Champion in the wake of the merger, The Dominator will finally undergo the surgery that he could've had this past summer.

The surgery could hold the Alliance MMA striking sensation from full contact for any time up to three months, and thus UFC fans who are anxious to see if the juice is worth the squeeze with Cruz may not be able to get their first taste of this young, exciting Bantamweight until the early summer.

Said a very hopeful Cruz about the likely timeframe of his return:

"It could be six months, but I'm not planning on six months...I'll say that it will take me eight weeks to recover and 12 weeks to punch again. [My return] has nothing to do with me being ready. That has to do with the UFC booking cards. I can't book myself on a card if I'm not ready. Bottom line is just finding that opening on a card and having the time right on my hand."

Bleacher Report MMA will provide updates on this matter as they come.

As for Cruz's return, you can count me as one of the many who will look forward to seeing The Dominator back inside the Octagon when he is finally back to his fighting form.