Dominick Cruz breaks hand/Winner of Faber-Bowles likely #1 contender

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Champ Dominick Cruz suffers broken hand, Faber-Bowles winner likely on deck
by Dann Stupp and Christian Stein on Oct 02, 2011 at 2:50 am ET
WASHINGTON, D.C. – UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz may have a next opponent on deck, but his timetable for a return remains a question mark.

Following a decisive decision victory over Demetrious Johnson in the headliner of Saturday's UFC on versus 6 event, UFC president Dana White shared some disappointing news.

Cruz suffered a broken hand in the fight, and he's set to undergo surgery.

Cruz made his second successful UFC title defense (and fourth straight defense overall when including WEC fights). His quick feet and smothering top game led him to a lopsided decision victory over a game Johnson. The fight took place at Washington, D.C.'s Verizon Center and aired live on Versus.

While Cruz (19-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Johnson (9-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) kept a frantic pace throughout the 25-minute affair, the champ would have had every reason to slow down.

"You know one of the things I respect about the kid?" UFC president Dana White openly pondered. "He's got a broken hand and had one the entire fight. He broke his (left) hand and is going to have surgery. Not only did he not stop fighting and keep coming up 100 percent, he doesn't even [expletive] say anything about it.

"He goes through an entire press conference and doesn't say anything about his hand."

When White asked Cruz why he didn't mention it during the official post-event press conference, he shrugged it off.

"'What's the difference? Who cares?'" White said Cruz told him. "I'm going to have surgery and come back.'

"You should see his hand right now. His whole middle of his hand is all swollen. His knuckle looks nasty. He's going to get surgery next week. (But) I don't know how long that will keep him out."

With title wins over Joseph Benavidez, Scott Jorgensen, Urijah Faber and Johnson, Cruz now is left wondering what's next.

The obvious choice appears a the winner of a UFC 139 bout between Faber and ex-WEC champ Brian Bowles. In fact, White said he "assumes" the victor of that fight likely will get the next title shot.

And though Cruz, who avenged his only career loss with the UC 132 victory over Faber, is sick of answering questions about the fan favorite, his upcoming fight has him intrigued.

"I'm pumped for that fight," Cruz said. "I believe the 135-pound division is going to set the bar for everyone else in the UFC. I fought both of those guys. I'm extremely excited to watch it.

"Both those guys are finishers. Both those guys come to compete. That fight is going to be something to watch. I'll be right in the crowd smirking just like [Faber] is always doing with his long, curly locks."

That sucks.

Hope it doesn't look as nasty as it did last time

Would rather see some fresh challenges for Cruz than rematches with Bowles, Faber and Benavidez.

Ali wrote:

Would rather see some fresh challenges for Cruz than rematches with Bowles, Faber and Benavidez.

Me too, but who do you give it to?

Primetyme199 wrote:

Ali wrote:

Would rather see some fresh challenges for Cruz than rematches with Bowles, Faber and Benavidez.

Me too, but who do you give it to?

Good question.

I'd like to see Torres get a shot but that won't happen.

There really isn't anyone deserving. We just saw what happens when you throw non elite 135lb fighters at Cruz in both Jorgenson and Johnson. That isn't to say Jorgenson won't be one day, but right now he's too young to be considered elite. Mighty Mouse has a glaring hole in his game in the form of takedown defense. He is still fast as hell and has excellent endurance, and his submission defense is outstanding though, I'll give him that. His defensive wrestling just seems to be really lacking for someone with takedowns at his level. I realize Cruz is a great MMA wrestler but there is no reason he should have been taking Johnson down quite as frequently as he was and with the ease he was.

Ludo wrote:

There really isn't anyone deserving. We just saw what happens when you throw non elite 135lb fighters at Cruz in both Jorgenson and Johnson. That isn't to say Jorgenson won't be one day, but right now he's too young to be considered elite. Mighty Mouse has a glaring hole in his game in the form of takedown defense. He is still fast as hell and has excellent endurance, and his submission defense is outstanding though, I'll give him that. His defensive wrestling just seems to be really lacking for someone with takedowns at his level. I realize Cruz is a great MMA wrestler but there is no reason he should have been taking Johnson down quite as frequently as he was and with the ease he was.

Johnson is a better fighter all around than Jorgenson but he is just too small imo. He does need to work on his TD defense though. UFC needs to go and get another few guys at 135lbs because a TUF winner shouldn't get a title shot right away from what the show has given us in the past. Usually guys from that show need plenty of fights before they crack the top 5 in their respected weight classes. There just isnt alot of names floating around right now that Zuffa can go after. I do want to see Bowles get a rematch though. I think he is gonna beat up Faber and show everyone that he is game for Cruz.

bigbeastcardinal12 wrote:

Ludo wrote:

There really isn't anyone deserving. We just saw what happens when you throw non elite 135lb fighters at Cruz in both Jorgenson and Johnson. That isn't to say Jorgenson won't be one day, but right now he's too young to be considered elite. Mighty Mouse has a glaring hole in his game in the form of takedown defense. He is still fast as hell and has excellent endurance, and his submission defense is outstanding though, I'll give him that. His defensive wrestling just seems to be really lacking for someone with takedowns at his level. I realize Cruz is a great MMA wrestler but there is no reason he should have been taking Johnson down quite as frequently as he was and with the ease he was.

Johnson is a better fighter all around than Jorgenson but he is just too small imo. He does need to work on his TD defense though. UFC needs to go and get another few guys at 135lbs because a TUF winner shouldn't get a title shot right away from what the show has given us in the past. Usually guys from that show need plenty of fights before they crack the top 5 in their respected weight classes. There just isnt alot of names floating around right now that Zuffa can go after. I do want to see Bowles get a rematch though. I think he is gonna beat up Faber and show everyone that he is game for Cruz.

Maybe after Kenny gets beat down by Jose Aldo this weekend he will drop to 135 to try to win a title

Not sure how many names are out there right now in terms of future fights for Cruz. Barao is certainly a name to keep an eye on and MacDonald if he continues to improve

screw it, let Cyborg fight Cruz!

bigbeastcardinal12 wrote:

screw it, let Cyborg fight Cruz!

Cyborg via TKO

Torres needs a shot simply because he is a former champion, offers a different look, is bigger than all Cruz other opponents and many people felt he really won that Mighty Mouse fight

Bowles and Faber need rematches though absolutely. Bowles lost the title to Cruz and should fight him again, and Faber and Cruz are 1-1 and Faber should have won the second fight on knockdowns imo.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Torres needs a shot simply because he is a former champion, offers a different look, is bigger than all Cruz other opponents and many people felt he really won that Mighty Mouse fight

Bowles and Faber need rematches though absolutely. Bowles lost the title to Cruz and should fight him again, and Faber and Cruz are 1-1 and Faber should have won the second fight on knockdowns imo.

Im 1 of those people.

I'll gladly take another Cruz/Faber fight thank you. The last one was fucking epic. And I'm still holding on to hope that Torres gets back to the top.

man they need some more depth. How many times is faber going to step up

SOKO wrote:

man they need some more depth. How many times is faber going to step up

To be fair he did give Cruz a very competitive fight. He is also 1-1 vs Cruz and a former Champion himself. This isn't Kenny Florian, Faber has actually accomplished something.

Bowels vs Faber is about right still for the #1 contender.

If Barao gets by Picket you have to look at him as a contender as well as Micheal McDonald if he gets by Eduardo. Another win by either over the likes of a Johnson, Torres, Jorgensen type afterwards would make them #1 contenders.

Faber and Bowles are the clear best contenders for the title.

I want to see faber get another shot before it's too late. Im ok with either guy getting another crack actually, but we'd likely see the same outcome