Injuries have brought Dominick Cruz’s career to a standstill. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Dominick Cruz is not getting any luckier.
UFC President Dana White announced the news Jan. 6 on SportsCenter. UFC 169 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Feb. 1 and also includes a featherweight title showdown pitting Jose Aldo against Ricardo Lamas.
Cruz has not competed since Oct. 1, 2011, when he took a five-round verdict over Demetrious Johnson in a 135-pound title bout at UFC Live 6. A torn ACL, two separate surgeries and a lengthy rehabilitation process kept the Alliance MMA product on the shelf for the next two-plus years. White did not give a timetable for Cruz’s return from his latest setback.
Faber, meanwhile, has been on a roll since losing a decision to Barao in an interim title tilt at UFC 149. “The California Kid” went 4-0 in 2013, besting Ivan Menjivar, Scott Jorgensen, Iuri Alcantara and Michael McDonald. However, the former World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight titlist has lost his last five title bouts.
Barao successfully defended the interim crown twice in 2013, submitting McDonald at UFC on Fuel TV 7 before scoring a second-round technical knockout against Eddie Wineland at UFC 165. The 26-year-old Nova Uniao standout is unbeaten in his last 32 professional appearances, including eight fights under the Zuffa banner.
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