With two of the top 135lb contenders ruled out for the foreseeable future, who will the UFC line up to fight TJ Dillashaw next?
It's been a rough 24 hours for the UFC's bantamweight division. First, it was saddened by the news that former champion Dominick Cruz suffered the third torn anterior cruciate ligament of his career, meaning he faces an extended period outside the Octagon.
Cruz had only just returned after three years on the sidelines in September. The Dominator was in lethal form against Takeya Mizugaki, knocking the Japanese fighter out in the first round in devastating fashion. The victory extended Cruz's win streak to 11 and it impressed Dana White enough to grant him a chance to regain his belt.
However, his hopes of claiming back his title have been dashed given his latest injury.
https://twitter.com/TheDomin8r/status/547128456719245312
Less than an hour later, the division was dealt another massive blow. Raphael Assuncao revealed that he broke his ankle in training and therefore will not be able to Assuncao is undefeated in the promotion since dropping down to bantamweight and is on a remarkable seven fight win streak inside the Octagon and holds a victory over current champ TJ Dillashaw. A second bout with Dillashaw would have been an easy one to sell.
https://twitter.com/RaphaAssuncao/status/547137001468620800
With the two logical top title contenders ruled out of action indefinitely, the question remains, who is going to get the next crack at TJ Dillashaw's belt? Here are four fighters who could potentially be squaring off against Team Alpha Male's first UFC champion inside the Octagon in 2015.
Renan Barao
The long-standing belt holder is the most logical choice with Cruz and Assuncao injured. The Brazilian missed out on his chance at getting revenge over Dillashaw after his shock loss to the Californian at UFC 169. Before that fight Barao was seen as invincible, having not a lost a professional MMA bout in over 9 years and racking up 33-straight victories along the way.
The pair were scheduled to throw down in the main event at UFC 177 but on the day of the weigh ins, Barão had to be admitted to the hospital after his attempts to cut weight went awry. He is likely to get another chance to win back his belt in 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msc5nYjFPUo
Urijah Faber
It's the fight that all the fans want but unfortunately it is extremely unlikely to happen. Faber runs the risk of forever being known as the greatest fighter to never hold a UFC belt. Amazingly, all seven of the Californian Kid's losses have been title fights. The perpetual contender's best hope of claiming that ever elusive UFC belt is probably by beating his protege, Dillashaw.
A Dillashaw v Faber title shot would be a contender for most anticipated fight of the decade. A win for Faber and he finally gets that UFC belt he so desperately deserves and by the same token, a victory for Dillashaw would make him one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters in MMA. However, the two friends and training partners are reluctant to take each other on inside the Octagon with the champ recently saying that would take "a billion dollars" to make it happen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGoO6hnjxAU
Bibiano Fernandes
Another long shot considering he has never fought in the promotion. However, Fernandes is widely considered to be the greatest bantamweight outside the UFC. The Flash is reportedly making money hand over fist in the Singapore-based promotion One FC but if Dana White and co. were willing to splash the cash to get his signature, he could pose a threat to Dillashaw's belt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrP1XWg5H3Y
Demetrious Johnson
Having already dispatched pretty much every top flyweight on the planet, the UFC are running out fighters to keep Mighty Mouse busy. It would be a big risk for Johnson to move up but the rewards would almost definitely be worth it.
Should he beat Dillahsaw, he would become the first fighter to hold two UFC belts simultaneously. An achievement such as that would solidify DJ as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport and would vastly improve his dwindling PPV numbers which would in turn lead to his purse being raised. Even if he loses, he would gain the respect of his fans and peers for at least giving it a shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gBZ_5JzBW8
