The Bantamweight division joined the UFC in late 2010. The division was absorbed when the UFC collapsed the remaining WEC divisions into the UFC and the WEC ceased to exist as a promotion.
UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber will be the first time the UFC bantamweight title is put on the line by the current champion Dominick Cruz. The last time Cruz defended a title was when it was still the WEC bantamweight title back in December 2010 against Scott Jorgensen.
This Saturday Cruz will be defending his title against the former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber.
This title fight signifies the arrival of the bantamweight division in the UFC. Up until recently, the smaller weight classes have had to fight for recognition. Of course there was the WEC, which did an excellent job at showcasing the lighter weight classes, but as a promotion it simply didn’t have the ability to promote and reach the same numbers of people as the UFC can right now.
Some people question the fact that Faber was granted a title shot due to the fact that he only has two wins in the division and prior to those wins was a mediocre 2-3 in the featherweight division after losing his title. That being said, who else would be better than Faber right now?
By giving Faber the title shot the UFC drastically increases the exposure of its bantamweight division to the fans.
People need to remember that despite Faber’s struggles at featherweight after losing the title to Mike Brown, he, for better or for worse was the poster boy of the WEC and the only real pillar who was recognized by more than just the hardcore mixed martial arts fans in the world.
What Faber built in the WEC will stay with him right through his career. Any fighter who defends his title five times and posts up a 21-1 record over their first 22 fights is going to be treated with higher regard. Just look at the chances Wanderlei Silva has been given, the guy is around a .500 fighter since 2005, but because of what he did in Pride and the excitement he brings in the cage he has a long leash with the promotion.
Couple Faber’s past with the facts that he has always been a company man and that his fight this Saturday with Cruz is in fact a rematch and the writing is on the wall—UFC 132 will be great for the bantamweight division regardless of the outcome.
Whether Cruz retains or loses his title to Faber is moot, the mere fact that he is fighting Faber means that his popularity with fans will rise and it will help strengthen the division as a whole which is great for all involved parties, including the fans.
Although Cruz has improved a lot over the last year, Faber is 2-0 in the bantamweight division despite recent struggles at featherweight.
If there is one thing people can praise Faber for, it is his ability to endure through a fight despite being seriously banged up, and he is a guy with a strong motor that pushes the pace and keeps things exciting for the fans.
Whether you agree or not that Faber received the bantamweight title shot so soon is irrelevant, the important thing to take away from this weekend’s matchup is that the fans and the rest of the bantamweight division are the winners in all this.
Leon Horne has been contributing to Bleacher Report for three years now. He focuses mainly on mixed martial arts, but he has also written about tennis, football and hockey. Just send him a message if you want to talk sports or discuss any opportunities. You can follow him on Twitter for updates: 
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com