Urijah Faber is a smooth media operator. After so many years being at the top of the sport, the “California Kid” knows how to handle himself in the public eye and promote himself.

Watch the above video for a case in point. Yesterday it was announced that bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz had torn his ACL and would be out of his July rubber match with Faber. In this reaction video released by Faber, he, almost at once, empathizes with the injured Cruz, dryly starts a rumor that a woman injured the champ, calls for an interim title bout between himself and somebody else, and plugs his new book. Hell, Faber even manages to offer his unsolicited ranking of the top three guys that deserve to fight him for the interim title.

“[Cruz had] been out almost a year and a half now. Once this surgery goes through, it’s going to be another nine months,” Faber says to emphasize the need to create an interim title. OK, an interim title should definitely be made, in this writer’s opinion, because any ACL surgery will put Cruz out of action long enough to warrant not holding up the division. But other than that, WTF, Urijah? Cruz last defended his belt in October of 2011. The fight prior to that for “The Dominator” was his decision win over Faber in June, 2011. Since his loss to Cruz, Faber himself has only fought once as well — one month after Cruz’ last bout.

So…Cruz has gone without fighting for about 5-6 months, not a year and a half. Faber’s nonchalant delivery almost has you believing it, though. That’s why he’s a public relations boss in addition to being a tough mother shut your mouf!.

As for the nine-month recovery time, I guess Faber is Cruz’s overseeing surgeon and physical therapist or has spoken with them and used a crystal ball. In any case, don’t let those dubious facts get in the way of enjoying this video from Faber where he wastes no time furthering one of the sport’s most interesting and real rivalries. Now, who doesn’t want to see guys who dislike each other that much, fight? Unfortunately, that will have to wait. Luckily, Faber has plenty of other great match-making ideas.

What do you think, nation? Faber vs. who, for an interim belt?

- Elias Cepeda