Broken Hand Shelves Dominick Cruz; Winner of Faber v. Bowles May Welcome Him Back

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz may not have finished challenger Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Versus 6 on Saturday night in Washington, D.C., but it’s impressive that he even finished the fight.

UFC president Dana White, following the post-fight press conference, said that Cruz fought the majority of the fight with a broken left hand.

“He sits through the whole press conference, doesn’t say anything,” recounted White. “I said to him, ‘You’re not gonna talk about your broken hand? He said, “What’s the point? I’m gonna get it done and I’ll be back.”’ I respect that.”

Having won 10 consecutive bouts now, the cat calls still came following Cruz’s win over Johnson. Eight of those 10 wins have come via decision and fans have been quite vocal about his lack of finishing.

It doesn’t seem he lacks for trying, however. Cruz threw everything but the kitchen sink at Johnson including a vast arsenal of striking on the feet, several near submissions on the mat, and planting him with suplexes.

Cruz may have his critics, but White isn’t among them.

“I thought he looked great tonight. He looked like a well rounded fighter, especially when you know he fought the entire fight with a broken hand.”

It’s not clear how long the injury will keep Cruz out; that will be determined when he goes in for surgery. It’s also not crystal clear who his next challenger will be, but it’s likely to be another rematch.

With Brian Bowles and Urijah Faber – two of the top five bantamweights in the world – squaring off at UFC 139 in November, the winner of that fight is likely to get the next crack at Cruz.

White, though, wouldn’t guarantee the winner of that fight – both have fought Cruz before, Faber twice – would be granted a title shot.

“I don’t know honestly, but it would be tough not to.”

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