Post-WEC 47: Top 10 Bantamweights

The 135-pound division was put on display last night, and it will never be the same as a result of some surprising action. Let's take a look at how the bantamweight's best stack up with WEC 47 in the books.

1. Dominick Cruz
 
After last night’s performance, there is no doubt about who the division’s best 135-pounder is. Despite the fact that Brian Bowles broke his hand with the very first punch, Cruz showcased he was the more polished fighter in every aspect.
 
A rematch between the two still holds intrigue because of any doubt caused by the broken hand. While Bowles heals, the WEC will have to decide who they put up against Cruz in the interim.
 
Will it be a rematch with Joseph Benavidez, fast-rising Scott Jorgensen, or could Damacio Page bypass both of those guys with a big win at WEC 48?

 
2. Joseph Benavidez
 
After working over former champion Miguel Torres with ease, it might be hard for the WEC to resist pitting Benavidez against Cruz first, despite the fact that the two already fought each other in their last fight at WEC 42 with Cruz emerging the clear victor.
 
If Benavidez doesn’t get the nod, a fight between he and Takeya Mizugaki could hold some cache. Mizugaki always brings multiple Fight of the Night honors to the cage, and despite going 1-2 in his last three fights, his two losses were entertaining ones by decision to Miguel Torres and Scott Jorgenson.

 
3. Brian Bowles
 
If injury wasn’t a factor, a fight between Joseph Benavidez and Brian Bowles would make sense. But with a broken hand, his second in as many fights, Bowles could be out for an extended period of time.
 
The former champ should take his time to heal up, and come back to the division ready to jump in where needed. The big questions surrounding his comeback will be if Bowles has the technical prowess to go toe-to-toe with Cruz, and if his hand will ever be the same.

 
4. Scott Jorgensen
 
Jorgenson is starting to turn heads, especially after last night's 31-second submission win over a solid opponent in Chad George. Prior to that, Jorgensen beat Takaya Mizugaki via impressive decision and former TUF fighter Noah Thomas by TKO.
 
Jorgenson’s resume does not come without pause though. He holds losses against two fighters who are currently ranked behind him in the divisional pecking order, albeit close decision losses to Antonio Banuelos and Damacio Page, who are ironically fighting each other at WEC 48.
 
If Benavidez does not get the title shot next, it could be Scott Jorgenson…unless the WEC opts to give the nod to the Banuelos-Page winner. If that happens, Benavidez vs. Jorgenson is a no-brainer.

5. Miguel Torres
 
Miguel Torres went from being mentioned as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the sport to back-to-back losses. And it’s not just the back-to-back part. The devastating fashion in which he lost to Brian Bowles and Joseph Benavidez has set the most dominant bantamweight in WEC history back farther than he's been in years.
 
While Torres has not slipped to Matt Hughes/Chuck Liddell territory yet, one has to wonder if the division is passing by the 135-pound legend on record. As for his next opponent, a fight with Rani Yahya may be in order. Yahya is coming off a TKO loss to Joseph Benavidez, and the two could determine which one deserves the opportunity at redemption.

 
6. Damacio Page
 
Since his first round guillotine loss to Brian Bowles back at WEC 35, Page has looked impressive in his last two wins; a KO win over Marcos Galvao, and a submission win over Will Campuzano.
 
In his upcoming fight at WEC 48, "The Angel of Death" takes on WEC veteran Antonio Banuelos. A win by Page could propel the Greg Jackson-trained fighter into a title fight against Dominick Cruz over the likes of Benavidez and Jorgenson (who Page beat by decision back at WEC 32).

 
7. Takeya Mizugaki
 
With losses to Jorgenson and Torres in two of his last three fights, it appears Mizugaki is a gatekeeper at best in the division. The WEC has many up-and-comers they could book opposite of Mizugaki, or they could put him up against mixed martial arts veteran Wagnney Fabiano, who is coming off a crushing decision win over Clint Godfrey at WEC 46.
 
Fabiano is looking to establish himself in the WEC bantamweight pecking order after abandoning his cause at featherweight, while Mizugaki is looking to keep himself relevant in bantamweight’s top ten. A fight between the two has all the makings of a good scrap.
 
As mentioned above, the WEC could also use the puzzle piece of Mizugaki to make a fight with Benavidez, should they not give him the next title shot. Hard to imagine that one wouldn’t end up as a Fight of the Year candidate.

 
8. Rani Yahya
 
Before suffering a one-sided TKO loss to Benavidez, Yahya was carrying a three-fight win streak, which included a win over the always dangerous Yoshiro Maeda back at WEC 36.
 
With Torres coming off his own loss to Benavidez, perhaps these two can console each other with the winner still remaining relevant in the division. His ADCC grappling prowess could give Torres fits, while Torres’ striking could wilt Yahya just as easily.

 
9. Wagnney Fabiano
 
Fabiano was on an eight-fight win streak, and being considered for a title fight in the featherweight division before being stunned by Mackens Semerzier at WEC 43, losing by submission in the first round.
 
Fabiano got back on track against Clint Godfrey, and will now look to settle in as a top 10 bantamweight fighter to make a run at a title shot—something that eluded him in the 145-pound division.
 
The most marketable fight for the WEC would be one featuring Fabiano against Miguel Torres, or they could opt to put him in the cage with Mizugaki. If neither of those pans out, they could go with WEC veteran Charlie Valencia.

 
10. Charlie Valencia/Antonio Banuelos

Valencia is on a three-fight win streak. Before that, he suffered back-to-back losses to Dominick Cruz and Yoshiro Maeda. He also has a loss to Brian Bowles.
 
As for Banuelos, he actually lost to Valencia via KO in the first round back at WEC 26. Since then he's gone 4-1 and appears better positioned in the division with his upcoming WEC 48 fight against Damacio Page.

 
So where does your loyalties lie: A better recent record, or a head-to-head win from years ago coupled with tougher competition?