T.J. Dillashaw targeting return to the UFC in July

Following a rib injury that forced him out of his fight at UFC 186, bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw is on the mend and targeting a summer date for his return to action.

Dillashaw was scheduled to fight Renan Barao on April 25 as the headline fight for UFC 186 in Montreal, but a training injured forced him to bow out of the contest.

Now according to Dillashaw's manager Mike Roberts via UFC Tonight's Ariel Helwani, the champion should be ready to return by July.

UFC officials had previously stated they hoped to rebook Dillashaw vs. Barao as soon as the champion was healthy and if he's ready to return in July there are any number of cards where they could land.

Dillashaw is looking for the second defense of his bantamweight title after dispatching Joe Soto last August after Barao was forced off the card due to a disastrous weight cut where the Brazilian passed out just hours before hitting the scale.

Dillashaw defeated Barao last May to win the belt and the rematch has been discussed for months, but it looks like a summer date will finally put the two bantamweights back together again.