Dominick Cruz Vows to Make UFC Return from ACL Tear in 2015 | MMAWeekly.com

“I did fine during sparring, I felt outstanding, and then I was drilling during our live session and when I was drilling, I threw a left high kick and my knee slid out, popped, and I knew I did it right away.”

SEE ALSO: Dominick Cruz Out with Another ACL Tear

That was how former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz explained his latest injury to UFC.com.

Having returned to action after having two ACL surgeries on his left knee and recovering from a torn groin, Cruz was headed into a shot at current champion TJ Dillashaw in an attempt to recover the belt.

Those plans have been put on hold after Cruz tore the ACL in his right knee during a recent training session.

Cruz was out of action for nearly three years with the injury to his left knee an the groin tear, but vows that it will be nowhere near that long this time around. He intends to be back in the Octagon in 2015.

“No ACL surgery is quick, obviously, but compared to what I’ve already been through, it’s going to be a quick fix,” Cruz said. “I’m looking at six to nine months, like the normal ACL repair, and I should be back next year.

“I’m not happy about this by any means, but it’s also not going to drop me into a funk, and I’m not going to allow it to stop me.”

SEE ALSO: Renan Barao May Be Last Best UFC Bantamweight Contender

And for all the doubters that say he should hang up his gloves for good, Cruz wouldn’t even entertain the notion.

“I’m still relatively young. I still see myself having five to six years in the sport, regardless of what anybody says, and I do believe I’m going to come back stronger.”

Follow MMAWeekly.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram