Current World Extreme Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (16-1) is preparing to meet Scott Jorgensen (11-3) later this month in the co-main event of WEC 53. Cruz is not only putting his WEC title on the line, but the winner will walk away to become the first ever UFC bantamweight champ.
For Cruz, win or lose, he’ll be sidelined for about six months as the fighter is planning on having surgery to one of his hands after the bout.
“To be honest, with the timing on this I had a couple options. I went into that fight with Joseph Benavidez with a hurt hand, and I just went ahead and took care of some stuff so it wouldn’t be an issue in the fight, and I had another option after I got done with that fight. The doctors told me you’re going to need surgery, you’re going to need to get it fixed, and you’re going to be out for six months at least,” Cruz explained.
“I just did not want to be out that long. I don’t want to be the kind of champion that just sits out over and over and over, so I just decided to tough it out and take another fight and get the surgery right after this fight, and sit on it for a minute after I re-win my belt.”
Cruz noted that the current condition of his hand won’t effect him against Jorgensen, the surgery is just something that will benefit him in the long run, so fans can expect him to bring his full punching power on Dec. 16.
WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis takes place on Dec. 16th at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona marking the last WEC event for the promotion before it merges with the UFC.
HT: MMAWeekly.com