Broken ankle sidelines UFC bantamweight Raphael Assuncao for potentially 10 weeks

With yesterday's news of UFC bantamweight contender and former champion Dominick Cruz's latest ACL injury, this time on his right knee, it was expected that Raphael Assuncao would immediately be in the running to take Cruz's spot against T.J. Dillashaw at some point in 2015. Unfortunately, Assuncao posted this announcement on Twitter that confirms he's also not healthy:

I am devastated 2 inform that my title shot hopes will be even further delayed due 2 broken ankle suffered in training I am sorry once again

— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) December 22, 2014

Assuncao has won his last 7 fights, including a unanimous decision win over Bryan Caraway in October, and a split decision over T.J. Dillashaw in 2013. He was in line to face Renan Barao at UFC 173 when an injury prevented him from competing on the card and Dillashaw stepped in for what would be a famous upset. Any hope of rematching Dillashaw after the Caraway fight took a back seat after Cruz dismantled Takeya Mizugaki in 61 seconds at UFC 178.

According to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, Assuncao will be sidelined for 8-10 weeks. It's another blow to a thin division lacking contenders to begin with, let alone active, healthy fighters.