Ultimate Fighting Championship or the UFC Bantamweight division fighter Urijah Faber is extremely disappointed that his long time rival and the UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz will be out of action for at least the next 6 to 9 months after having undergone surgery to repair a torn ACL on his left knee.

It means that Faber will have to wait a long time before he gets the chance to avenge his loss to Cruz via a decision call last year. Moreover, he will also have to face the Brazilian Anderson Silva for a shot at the interim UFC Bantamweight Championship and that is not all; his loss to Jose Aldo means that the interim Championship match will also be moved from UFC 147.

Speaking to MMAWeekly.com, Faber stated that the injury to Dominick Cruz was very disappointing as he was looking forward to beating him, taking revenge for the decision loss to him last year as well as securing the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Faber and Cruz have faced each other two times in the UFC with one wins each and the trilogy was set to decide not only the fate of UFC Bantamweight Championship but also who the better amongst the two was.

Cruz and Faber renewed their rivalry recently on The Ultimate Fighter where they were given the coaching role. Faber, however, was not entirely insensitive towards the injury to Cruz. He added that the two of them were capable of getting on each other’s nerves and there was a lot of respect towards each other as well.

And with the prospect of facing Barao at UFC 149, Faber believes it will be more difficult for him stylistically as Barao is completely different to Dominick Cruz but with the prospect of facing Cruz in future being the incentive, Faber will not lack the motivation to win.