MMA News Forums - Former champ Urijah Faber hoping to return to octagon at UFC 156 in February

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Former champ Urijah Faber hoping to return to octagon at UFC 156 in February

Former champ Urijah Faber hoping to return to octagon at UFC 156 in February | MMAjunkie.com

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Urijah Faber apparently has the itch.

The former longtime featherweight champion has been out of action since a July bantamweight interim title fight loss to Renan Barao (29-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC). But after a bit of an uncertain future and timetable for a return, he appears to be ready to get back to work.

Faber (26-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) recently told FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight" that he hopes to return in the early part of 2013 and is hoping for a spot at UFC 156.

UFC 156 is the promotion's annual Super Bowl weekend card. It takes place Feb. 2 in Las Vegas with a featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar.

Following Faber's loss to Barao at UFC 149, he had to face the fact that he had five straight losses in title fights. He lost his WEC 145-pound title to Mike Brown, then lost to him in their rematch. After Aldo took the belt from Brown, Faber got a crack at him and lost by unanimous decision. Once in the UFC, Faber dropped to bantamweight. But at 135 pounds, he lost to rival Dominick Cruz by decision, then lost to Barao in the interim title fight after Cruz was injured.

But Faber knew one thing for certain after UFC 149 – he wouldn't be dropping one more division to flyweight.

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"No way," he told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) after the fight with Barao. "I put on 18 pounds last night, and I would probably not be here if I was trying to get to 125. No, 135 is where I'll be."

Faber has been rehabbing a rib injury from the Barao fight, as well as other fight bumps and bruises. But with clearance, he's ready for whoever is next, and the UFC is believed to be targeting him for a spot on the card, as well.

Faber is not the first fighter to come out and campaign for a spot on the Super Bowl weekend card. Onetime welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck has made it known he'd love to fight Nick Diaz on the card, which traditionally is one of the UFC's biggest of the year.

How exciting.... Lets hope it is not a title shot:huh:

Serious question, would having the super bowl card on FOX do more for the UFC then the ppv buys would? Im sure a ton of fans would tune into the card on fox that other wise wouldnt just because its superbowl weekend and they could advertise the shit out of it before hand...

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Originally Posted by Cat--Smasher (Post 982832)

How exciting.... Lets hope it is not a title shot:huh:

at 125!!

who do you guys think faber would be matched up against??

i'd say easton, mcdonald, or jorgenson

i had always wished he couldve fought torres.

i'd still pay to see torres vs. faber.

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Originally Posted by Badluck33 (Post 982998)

i'd still pay to see torres vs. faber.

Unfortunately neither is the same fighter they were 3-4 years ago. Faber is to tentative and Torres has lost his competitive edge.

Michael McDonald makes the most sense ranking-wise, especially since he's already beaten Assuncao.

Anyone else would probably be a marked step down, unless somebody from 145 of relevance plans on dropping down, seeing as most BWs are tied up in previous matchups as we speak.

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Originally Posted by disposableassassin (Post 982925)

i had always wished he couldve fought torres.

They could have made that make sense. Not so much ranking wise, but two fallen champs. Could have been great.

With the way that card is shaping up, he might be on the undercard.