White: Cruz Can Take Immediate Title Shot Upon Return If ‘He Wants It’

“I, literally, have heard nothing from Dominick Cruz. I don’t know what’s going on with him. And I don’t think after this much of a layoff it would be right to throw him in there for [a title shot], unless he wants it. He was the champ before all this stuff happened to him, and if he wanted to come right back and fight (Barao), then yeah, I’d do it. But Barao is one of those guys – man, I just think Barao is so nasty. I’d fight somebody else. If it was me, personally.”

During yesterday’s UFC on FOX 11 post-fight media event, UFC President Dana White discussed the future of his former bantamweight champ, Dominick Cruz.

Cruz has been sidelined for two-years with multiple injuries. The former champion was forced to relinquish his belt when he pulled out of his scheduled UFC 169 bout against Renan Barao. At the time, Barao held interim gold, but that asterisk was removed upon Cruz’ latest injury.