UFC bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz has been on the shelf since his 2011 win over Demetrious Johnson.

The true champion has been plagued with injuries and been forced to look on at his division while Renan Barao sports the interim title.

On today’s UFC 165 pre-fight media conference call the UFC boss, Dana White said that he hopes the co-main event next week is the last interim title fight for the bantamweight champion.

Here it is:

“I certainly hope this is the last time we’re doing the interim title. We’re expecting his return at the beginning of the year, and if he can’t return at the beginning of the year, then we’re going to have to make a decision. He came in here a few weeks ago and had lunch with me and Lorenzo, and he was very confident he’d be ready to go at the beginning of the year.”