Dominick Cruz's Hand in a Cast for "Seven Weeks", Bantamweight Division Becoming Clear (due to injuries)

Loretta Hunt of Sherdog reports on Cruz's status:

Newly crowned WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz's right hand will remain in a cast for seven more weeks, said the fighter's head trainer Eric DelFierro on Wednesday. MRI results revealed torn tendons and ligaments, as well as a hair-line fracture in Cruz's hand and wrist following his March 6 victory over Brian Bowles at WEC 47 in Columbus, Ohio.

For the WEC, and what they decide to do at 135lbs. a lot will depend on how quickly Dominick can come back from the injury.

In the aftermath of WEC 47 WKR commented that the WEC bantamweight hierarchy was 'blown up'. A fact that created a host of possibilities at 135lbs.

Now that Torres and Bowles are both out with injuries, and Cruz's uncertain availability, it appears that the WEC has been secretly blessed with a narrower field to sort out. Scott Jorgensen and Joseph Benavdiez are the obvious top dogs, and the winner of Antonio Banuelos vs. Damacio Page was a dark horse candidate to fight for a possible interim title or number one contender status.

But Damacio Page is now out of WEC 48 with an injury and the promotion has tapped Scott Jorgensen to replace Page. While it is always unfortunate when fighters get injured this development is a secret blessing in disguise. Now the winner of Jorgensen-Buenelos is a de facto challenger for Joseph Benavidez in an interim title or number one contender bout depending Cruz's status.

SBN coverage of WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz