Props: CombatLifestyle.com
Quoteworthy:
“He’s super dedicated to what he does whether it be training for fighting, or supporting his guys in their fights. He’s respectful to his opponents, and doesn’t underestimate them. His training is excessive; a regimen that many would be and are hard pressed to keep up with. Some would call it overtraining, but to him it’s his every day thing, whether he has a fight coming up or not. The training level he kept up with this trip I took to see him was no more than when I went last august to sac and he didn’t have an impending fight. He’s got a funny sense of humor and a great rapport with the guys he trains.”
MMA photographer Tracy Lee recently tailed WEC Featherweight Champion Urjiah Faber during a few days of training as he prepares for his showdown with former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif., on June 1. “The California Kid” appears to be in top form and will be more than ready for Lil Evil on fight night.
25 Comments »
Sorry Jens, but you will not be the title holder of a any Zuffa owned company soon. As long as BJ Penn and Faber have the belts.
i agree, but i still think jens will give him ahelluva alot tougher fight than what a lot of people think. and this is coming from a guy who cant stand mfs fighters.
jens pulver is on my list of top ten favorite fighters. i think he helped the sport go to where it is today and i think he was deff one of the greats of his time. however i do not think that he is going to get it done against uriah. he is just so explosive and so well rounded. he can stand up and bang but if you get him on the ground you cant hang with him because he knows so many submissions! i am going to say uriah by second round submission.
I really think this will be a great fight. For all you guys that say faber should bulk up and go to UFC, if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t need fixing. The wec is perfect for him, he’s champ, dominant and making money
for right now i think the wec is right for him but if he keeps running through guys @145 i would like to see him step up and go to the ufc. If he gets through pulver i would like to see him fight garcia if he isnt going to jail or whatever.
I think that eventually a time will come where Urijah has no other options to fight at 145, unless Zuffa starts bringing in Japanese fighters to take on Faber. There is one fighter that comes to mind that I think that Urijah must beat at 145 - Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto. That kid has a resume!
Sure, Leonard Garcia would provide for about 2 minutes of excitement against Faber. Faber wouldn’t stand and bang. He’s not dumb. He’d take him down and submit him - easily. I don’t ever recall seeing Garcia’s guard…
Right now Faber is the face of the WEC and he must be getting taken care of - otherwise he’d be considering moving up to the UFC’s LW division.
SO once Faber beats Jens, Garcia, 2 other small UFC LW’s, AND Kid Yamamoto, THEN come on up to 155.
Speaking of small UFC LW’s, Frankie Egard looked like a kindergardener in there against Maynard. Maybe a drop to 145 would be good for Frankie.
I agree. Actually (not to sound like a conspiracy goof) I question Maynard being 155, period. There is no way he is a legit 155. He looks like he walks around at 170.
Actually, I think that Gray cuts more than 15 lbs to make LW. He is HUGE.
lol conspiracy…bj is a LW but gained enough to fight Machida. If you can make the weight, you can fight in the division!
I wonder how much Urijah makes to fight basically being the Chuck Liddell of the WEC? I dont remember ever seeing one of his pay days. Any one know anything about his pay days from a WEC fight let me know.
The “Kid” Yamamotto fight MUST HAPPEN, but I believe Dana white said “those Japanease fighters come with a high price tag”…Like he cant afford it!
I am still on the fence about if Jens can make it a fight or not. I think he is a bad dude at 145 lbs. Urijah has the Youth Factor and is an incredible GSP-like-athlete. if Urijaha wants to he can end it right away. I dont think that Jens can stop his take down at all and I dont think he could put up much a defense against Urijah on the ground either. Hopefully the fight stays standing for like a round to make it interesting, but I dont think Faber will bang with Jens for longer then 2 minutes.
Hopefully its a good fight and not a complete domination!
I agree with VM in that Edgar should consider moving down to 145 and fight in the WEC, because Maynard really DWARFED him!
As for possible fights left for Urijah at 145 lbs, lets not forget Din Thomas. I have never seen him fight at that weight, but I always thought he was a decent sized lightweight so I expect him to be a beast at 145 lbs. As long as his knee is cool, he might be Urijah biggest threat outside of “Kid” of course.
you’re right about the fighters from japan mike. They are gods over there and think it translates over to the states. Same thing with Fedor. They don’t realize that we are the exception, that casual fans have no idea who they are
Don’t forget Strike Force Gilbert Melendez he’s 155 lbs but he has fought at 145 lbs.
In addition I think Faber is to small for 155 as he walks around 152-153, he’ll stay at WEC and smaller fighters from UFC 155lbs will try to fight at WEC 145 lbs and get a title shot.
There will be no shortage of fights for Faber at the WEC, Din Thomas looks like he’s headed that way already, more will follow.
Also about Maynard and weight, what a fighter weighs 24 hrs after they make weight is usually their true walking around weight if eating and excercising properly. Anymore extra poundage after that time is just excess, usually happens as they take days off and eat whatever, whenever they want. Maynard probably cuts 15 lbs.
i agree that faber is tooo small for 155 right now. he needs to grow into that weight. faber held his own against tyson griffin and was probably winning until the last round, and tyson is still just in the midle of the pack at lw in the ufc. so fabers strengths at 145 wuldnt be so strong at 155. if they bring him to yhe ufc, let him fight glay guida. there at the same intensity level and wrestling ability. if he can beat clay then we can see about how well he’ll do in the ufc.
You guys couldnt be more wrong…go to Combatlifestyle.com and click on the Hard Rock photos. There is one of me and Urijah and Im 6′2 195-200 and he is next to me looking crazy huge. I asked him what he was weighing and he said somewhere around 165…so I dont think he will have that big of a problem in the 155lbs weight class.
he is a young guy, he will gain weight as he ages and will be a 155 title holder in 3 to 4 years, he is off the scale with skill and drive
I’m expecting a good fight, but if faber does blow through jens he should beat up the WEC lightweight division and see what he can do in the UFC before he’s too old. BJ fought at heavyweight, faber can move up too
Urijah rocks!!! He’ll pound Pulver. I think he could do well in the LW UFC Div, but I don’t see that happening, not this year at least.
Why does everyone think Urijah will not stand and bang? Yeah he’s got good take downs, but Jens has amazing wrestling and a pretty good sprawl. Its not going to be easy for Faber to take down Lil Evil. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but when he tries he’ll get stuffed more than a couple times. Remember Jens is undefeated at this weight.
Faber has speed and athleticism that Pulver just won’t be able to train for or deal with in the cage. Faber will win this wherever he feels like.
Th 3 fights id like to see faber fight before any move to the UFC are:
pulver
garcia
Din thomas (if thats where hes headed??)
Faber is not moving into the UFC anytime soon. He may be the best in the WEC but compared to the competition at the lowest weight in the UFC he stands to lose to much. The UFC has guys like Maynard, Huerta, Guida, Florian, Edgar, Fisher, Stevenson, and Griffin (who beat Faber). Standing at the top are Sherk and Penn. Doesn’t really look like a smart move although there would be alot of super fights for him.
On the other hand he can still get paid massive amounts of money when everyone of his fights is the focus of the WEC. He also gets to look forward to alot of new competition with UFC cuts and the Lightweight division being so stacked (people moving down like Din). Zuffa does not want Faber to move.
I’m thinking Jens will win this one, by a well aimed left. Also I don’t think it was the intention of the WEC for Jens to win. They are trying to give Faber a more solid fight history and don’t want their main cash crop to have to become a contender. Jens is great but there are more fighters listed in that group that could beat Jens than there are that could beat Faber. Best of luck to both of them.
Just the fact that you think Jens will wn this fight says something about your MMA knowledge. That left hasnt landed in almost 4 years dude. Florian, Huerta, and Sherk are the only guys that would give Faber trouble and some more than others. Guida’s energy combined with Fabers would make for a great fight but Faber takes it on a Guida mistake. Maynard LoL! Stevenson, Fisher . . . Get outworked! And Griffin . . . Im sure Faber cant wait for the day he gets to avenge his only loss. No one thinks he is moving anytime soon but one day he will so for the guys he has an option to fight right now, those 3 i named are the 3 id like to see but thats do to lack of comp, not one of them has a realistic chance! I just like the way Garcia smiles all the way through a beating, cant not like that attitude.
You make some interesting points. I am a huge Urijah fan and I think Maynard would give him some problems due to his size. On the other hand, I don’t think Huerta would be able to handle Faber. Nothing against Huerta, but he went 3 full rounds against Garcia at 155. If Garcia escapes incarceration, he won’t last 1 round with Faber at 145 where you would figure him to be the bigger stronger guy. Urijah is too explosive for him.
Man Urijah has the same Physical attributes as Lord Farquaad, off of Shek….lol
Urijah is alwyas exciting and has the young tools to take on the vet Jens. Jens has the explosive hands and experiance with the Prime time fighters in the more large orginizations as in the UFC. This fight should be Technical with some rolling and some good stand-up if Jens can keep the fight sanding. I expect “Lord Farquaad” to go in for the take-down and Sub/GnP. Urijah in the championshp rounds by TKO…
I just don’t see Jens holding up with Urijah becuase of his last fight with BJ. In that fight Jens was over powered and handled on the ground. Urijah is a BJ x 10, not as skilled but faster and stronger. I think every one knows Urijah is taking this fight to the ground where Jens is out of his world.
Good luck Jens.