What we know for sure is it means Cruz won’t be ready to fight again come summertime, which was what the UFC was hoping for after Barao defended his belt against Michael McDonald last month.
Other than that, Cruz, 27, told MMAFighting.com on Wednesday that there is no timetable set for his return.
“I’m listening to my doctors,” he wrote via text message, “and I’m not putting extra pressure on myself by giving any timeline because it’s not possible to do so as of now. Everything associated with recovery/rehab is on track 100 percent.”
Cruz (19-1) hasn’t fought since he defended his belt against Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Versus 6 in Oct. 2011. He tore his ACL weeks before he was scheduled to fight Urijah Faber for a third time at UFC 146 last summer, and then was forced to undergo a second knee surgery in December when it was revealed that his injury didn’t heal properly.
“I’m out of the equation until I’m cleared by the doctor,” he wrote. “Barao is the champion for now, and my belt/title defenses up to this point save me a spot to fight the interim champion when I am healed.
“The UFC is a machine, and machines never stop. It’s out of my hands at this point.
“And yes, needless to say, this sucks for me.”
Barao vs. Wineland will take place June 15 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.