John Dodson undergoes ACL surgery, out until 2015

One of the top flyweights in the UFC will be out of action for the next year.

Former 125lb. title contender John Dodson underwent ACL surgery on Wednesday and will be on the sidelines for the next 6-8 months before even returning to the gym.

FOX Sport's Damon Martin initially reported the news.

The surgery was performed to repair the ACL as well as a torn meniscus. Once he completes the rehabilitation process, Dodson will require another 3-4 months before he can actually step inside the octagon again.

"I'm looking at six to eight months of me actually being out before I can start going back in the gym and going hard and stuff. About a year (before a fight)," Dodson told FOX Sports on Thursday.

Dodson's knee problem dates back to 2013 when he was forced to withdraw from a scheduled match-up against Scott Jorgensen. The issue would arise again following the John Moraga fight and he decided to go get it checked out.

"It popped again that Monday after the fight when I went to go run," Dodson said. "I was running, running and then I heard I pop again and I was like maybe I need to tell somebody and my manager forced me to go to the doctors and get it checked it out and get the final opinion on it."

The TUF winner plans to rest and rehabilitate his knee before returning to the cage in 2015 to usurp the title from Demetrious Johnson.