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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Urijah Faber's return from injury will come at UFC 181 on Dec. 6, and it won't be against Raphael Assuncao.
The UFC announced on Wednesday night that Faber will fight Francisco Rivera on the card in Las Vegas, which will be headlined by two title fights on pay-per-view.
The former WEC Featherweight Champ and multi-time UFC Title challenger bounced back from his latest title loss his last time out, submitting Alex Caceres at UFC 175 in July. Faber's four-fight winning streak in 2013 didn't continue into this year, as a short notice title rematch with Renan Barao led to his first stoppage loss in over five years.
The 33-year-old Rivera had been unbeaten in four UFC bouts into his most recent outing at UFC 173 in May, but he suffered a decision loss to Takeya Mizugaki on that card.
UFC 181 will be headlined by the Welterweight Title bout between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler, with the Lightweight Title bout between Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez serving as the night's co-main event.
Penick's Analysis: This is an interesting fight. Prior to the Mizugaki loss, I'd have considered Rivera more of a threat to Faber than I think he'll be this time around. Faber's a better fighter than Mizugaki, and Rivera's just not elite. Faber may never get another title fight (though it's not out of the question yet), but I don't think he's in a spot where he'll lose to anyone outside of the elite, either.
[Urijah Faber art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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