Cruz was to be next in line to face T.J. Dillashaw, with Assuncao a likely next opponent for Barao to determine the next No. 1 contender. Now, Barao is likely the most deserving challenger left healthy.
Penick's Analysis: This is extremely unfortunate news, coming on the heels of already unfortunate news in Cruz's injury. Of course, it's what Barao likes to hear, because there's no one else who could take his spot, because I don't see the UFC getting Dillashaw and Urijah Faber to fight one another. Dillashaw is recovering from a minor injury of his own, but a rematch with Barao sometime between March and May makes sense. Hopefully we can see Cruz and/or Assuncao to get back by the last half of 2015, but with an ACL injury and broken ankle, respectively, it wouldn't be surprising for either to miss the year.
UPDATE: Ariel Helwani on Twitter, Assuncao suffered a clean break and won't require surgery. He's only expected to be off it for 8-10 weeks, meaning he could fit in to a title fight against the winner of a likely rematch between T.J. Dillashaw and Renan Barao.
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