I watched the Urijah Faber v. Pulver fight on WEC. Based on one fight and knowing nothing about him, I have decided I'm a Faber fan. So I was wondering, is he for real? How would he do in the UFC? Also, is he cool outside the ring? Any input is appreciated. Thanks -the rookie
Good choice! He is a great fighter but his wild style cost him his belt last time he fought. He fights at featherweight (145-lbs) and the lightest weight class the UFC has is lightweight (155-lbs), so for him to go to the UFC he needs to move up ten pounds. Here is a clip of him talking about a crazy night out for him that would sound like a made up story coming from anyone else: [video=youtube;rOQLg7Kc8So]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOQLg7Kc8So[/video]
Faber is for real. He is an exciting fighter, but unfortunately his exciting style cost him his last fight. I don't expect him to be held down for long, I think he'll have his belt back by the end of the year. I think, however, he might be too small to move up to 155 and fight in the UFC.
Faber is a beast! He was considered a top ten pound for pound figher prior to his upset loss to mike brown. Expect him to have the WEC title back before the end of 09. Dude has great wrestling and endless cardio.
Thanks for the responses (and the video links speeds). I hate to throw out comparisons because it exposes my lack of knowledge of the sport . . . but what the heck it is a chat board. Faber reminds me of a pint size Tito Ortiz back in Tito's prime. About Faber going to the UFC, I'm afraid to see how Faber can move up 10 pounds given how built he is for his size already. If adding 10 pounds means in the gut . . . I don't want to see it. Are fighters allowed to move up a class without adding the pounds. In other words can Faber just fight someone 10 lbs heavier than him?
Faber and Ortiz are both great wrestlers so its not a wild comparison. Faber has much more confidence in his striking than Ortiz ever did, though. And Faber is more creative. Ortiz was more like a snowplow: take him down, push him against the fence, throw punches and elbows until his face is ground beef. Ortiz's style was effective at the time but not recently. Attribute that to the change in MMA skill level or to a degradation in Ortiz's ability. For an MMA fighter, moving up ten pounds typically isn't a big issue. He could fight at 155# and still be in great shape. The problem would be that his small frame gives him a reach disadvantage. Some fighters at lightweight are six feet tall. Plus, his main asset is his wrestling, and the UFC's lightweight division is full of great wrestlers (Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, Tyson Griffin, Sean Sherk, etc.). Faber is certainly talented enough to fight in the UFC but I don't think he'd be a title contender--which makes you wonder if it is worth it for him. Faber has talked about fighting WEC Bantamweight (135#) champion Miguel Torres in a catch-weight fight (140#, presumably). That might be better for his career than trying to fight the monsters in the UFC.
Prior to Faber's recent loss to Mike Brown, his only other loss was to Tyson Griffin who is a very good wrestler who fights at 155. Faber probably fights at 155lbs when he fights. Most fighters cut weight for the weigh in's and then rehydrate and weigh 5-15 lbs heavier than they weighed in. But that means 155 fighters would do the same and weigh 160-170 lbs. It's a lot easier to drop weight if you weigh more. Hench Light Heavyweight fighters weighing 220 lbs on fight night after weighing in at 205.
Faber is a pretty cool dude. I don't think I really ahve heard anything bad about him. I've seen a few people say that they think he is cocky and a punk, but I just think is his california surfer dude look. I'd love to see Torres move up and fight him.
a fight between Torres and Faber would be like the tazmanian devil, all this dust and whirling with arms and legs popping into view every now and then!! It'd be awesome!
