Dominick Cruz 'has done a phenomenal job' and will stay on as TUF 15 coach

In case you were abducted by aliens or drank too much last weekend and don't remember what happened on Monday, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz blew out his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), forcing him to withdraw from his upcoming UFC 148 title defense against arch nemesis and opposing Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: "Live" coach Urijah Faber.

"The California Kid" is currently expecting a late replacement and will fight for the newly-created Interim title.

So how does that affect the coaching dynamic on the FX channel's mixed martial arts (MMA) reality show? As my colleague Kevin Haggerty touched on late last night, the show must go on, and Cruz will remain in charge of his team until the upcoming live finale on June 1, 2012.

UFC President Dana White explains why:

"Cruz will stay on. Cruz has done a phenomenal job coaching his team. The thing had a chance to become even the other night, if Rio would have won, but Ogle beat him. It's still neck-and-neck, so, yes, he will stay a coach."

Hear more from the promotion's head honcho as he breaks down the change in plans for UFC 148 and beyond, after the jump.

For more on "The Dominator's" knee injury click here and here. For more on the current season of TUF 15 click here.