The King of Earning UFC Title Shots Will Soon Strike Again
“The California Kid” Urijah Faber has remained as one of the sport’s biggest stars for years, and has also remained quite relevant in his division despite now having 43 professional fights and being 36-years-old.
Faber is undoubtedly a legend of the sport, and a former WEC champion, but he has also struggled when it comes to championship level fights as well. The Team Alpha Male leader has been unsuccessful in all three of his UFC title fights, and has had a few more chances back in the WEC in which he was also unsuccessful.
As far as UFC competition goes, “The California Kid” dropped a unanimous decision loss to former champion Dominick Cruz in 2011, as well as two losses to another former champion, Renan Barao, in 2012 and 2014.
When a fighter loses twice to a champion, it’s usually extremely hard to secure a third shot at the belt which is why some would assume that Faber was happy to see Barao lose his title last year. However, the situation didn’t improve for Faber as his teammate at the time, TJ Dillashaw, became the champion, a man Faber wasn’t too enthusiastic about fighting.
By now, we have seen how fast things can change in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), and although it may be crazy to believe, I actually foresee the king of UFC title shots, Faber, receiving yet another golden opportunity sometime next year.
First off, news dropped a few weeks back that Dillashaw was actually leaving Team Alpha Male, and heading to Colorado where he would be training with Team Elevation full-time. This means that Faber, and “Killashaw” are no longer teammates, and a rivalry actually seems to be brewing between the two.
While both men have been hesitant regarding the fight in the past, it now seems as if the two are more willing after the split, and it seems even as if they expect it to happen.
A bout between Dillashaw, and his former mentor Faber for the title would undoubtedly be a huge bout, and one I’d like to think the UFC would try endlessly to book.
Not only that, but Cruz is finally set to make his return after fighting only once over the last four years due to multiple knee, and leg injuries. “The California Kid” actually does own a win over “The Dominator” back in 2007, making a trilogy bout almost necessary.
In fact, the two were supposed to settle the score after coaching opposite one another on season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter, but a Cruz injury put a fork in those plans. With a rivalry clearly intact, and history to go with it, Cruz vs. Faber 3 is yet another huge scrap I’d have to think the UFC has its eyes on.
To make either of these possibilities happen, however, a few things need to occur first. Faber is set to meet Frankie Saenz on December 12, 2015 at UFC 194 in a fight many feel as if he should win rather easily, and if he does, I believe he’ll be set.
Cruz will return in January at UFC Fight Night 80 to take on Dillashaw for the 135-pound belt, and no matter the winner, the UFC will likely look to book Faber for the next title shot if he indeed ends up victorious at UFC 194.
Also, the bantamweight division is quite limited on title contenders. That being said, Faber remains a huge name, and the magnitude of a fight with either Dillashaw or Cruz would make it a no brainer for the promotion.
It seems as if Faber has gotten endless chances to secure UFC gold, and when it seemed as if another title run may have been out of the picture, “The California Kid” seems to be in line for one last chance at glory.
If things play out as I seem to think they will, which fight would be your preference? Would you like to see a super fight between former teammates, or a rubber match to close out one of the sport’s best rivalries?
