John Dodson (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

John Dodson won’t be challenging for the UFC flyweight title in 2014, as the #1 contender has undergone surgery to repair an injured knee, and will sidelined for multiple months.

Dodson recently underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and meniscus in his knee, according to a report from FOX Sports. As a result, the punishing striker is expected to be out for six to eight months.

The 29 year-old fighter relayed in the story that he initially hurt his knee in 2013, when he was scheduled to fight Scott Jorgensen. Dodson rehabbed the injury, but during his win over John Moraga in June, the flyweight injured the knee again.

It wasn’t until more recently that the severity of the injury was diagnosed, and Dodson was forced to undergo surgery.

The Jackson-Winkeljohn fighter has scored two stoppage wins since he was decisioned by champion Demetrious Johnson in 2013. Although a rematch between the two hadn’t been booked, UFC President Dana White had said Dodson was the front runner for the next title shot.