Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (20-1 MMA) returned to action for the first time since October of 2011 this past September at UFC 178, where he earned an impressive knockout victory over Takeya Mizugaki in just 61-seconds.

Unfortunately for “The Dominator”, who has been plagued by injuries since he made the transition from the WEC to the UFC, he suffered another torn ACL in training shortly after his 2014 win.

Cruz recently sat down with Inside MMA where he discussed his rehab, as well as a timetable for his return:

“My goal is to try to be back by the end of the year. That’s my goal. I’ve already had my title stripped. I’ve already been dropped out of the rankings. What do I need to rush for is the way I’m thinking right now. Every thing that I’ve earned has already been taken from me,” Cruz said in an interview with Inside MMA.

“I want to go out, into this next fight, very healthy, and I definitely want to fight for the title. I don’t care who has it. I believe I’m the best in the world. I believe I never lost that position. The only thing that we’re waiting for is for me to come back and earn it.”

The bantamweight strap is currently wrapped around the waist of TJ Dillashaw, who will put his title on the line against Renan Barao this Saturday night at UFC on FOX 16 in Chicago.

Who would you like to see Dominick Cruz fight in his octagon return? Sound off Penn Nation!

BJ Penn, Matt Hughes, & Frank Trigg Talk Fighting… Eachother — EPIC! – AMAZING! – MUST WATCH!