Faber Ready For Bantamweight Title Shot: “I’ve Been Released From TJ Dillashaw’s Friendship”

Urijah Faber spoke at the UFC 194 press conference on Saturday after defeating Frankie Saenz. Faber made it clear no matter who the winner of TJ Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz at UFC Fight Night 81 is, he’s coming after them for their UFC Bantamweight Championship.

“Fighting for the title is what my goal is, and I took myself off the market for a while,” Faber said. “It’s kind of a weird thing when you’ve been at the top of a division you’ve been in your entire career to kind of take a backseat because of friendship. That’s off the table now.”

Faber is ready regardless who wins the fight, even if it’s his former friend and training partner Dillashaw.

“I’ve been released from the friendship. So I’m going to train my butt off and I’m hoping I get that call, and I’ll be ready.”

“I would say the one that everybody wants to see is the classic story, it’s like a mix between Rocky 4 and Rocky 5,” Faber said. “My boy (Sylvester) Stallone actually left a voice message and gave a little Rocky Balboa shout-out there. It really doesn’t matter too much to me. I mean, I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time.

“Cruz is a dope. T.J., I can’t relate to the guy. I’m looking forward to a good fight.”

UFC Fight Night 81 takes place Sunday, January 17th at the TD Garden in Boston. TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight title will headline the evening, while Eddie Alvarez vs. Anthony Pettis will serve as the co-main event.

Related: Chael Sonnen Says Dillashaw Made “Chump” Move, Likely To Lose To Dominick Cruz

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