WEC
WEC NEWS: Urijah Faber planning on fighting at both featherweight and bantamweight going forward
Jul 25, 2010 - 7:20:46 PM WEC NEWS: Urijah Faber planning on fighting at both featherweight and bantamweight going forward

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

While Urijah Faber's scheduled WEC bantamweight debut against Takeya Mizugaki was pushed back from next month's WEC 50 event, the fight is still expected to come to the company's next event on September 30. But Faber's not making a permanent drop to 135 lb.

"We have been talking privately about the drop to 35 for over a year," said Faber's manager, Mike Roberts of MMA Inc., in comments made to MMAWeekly.com. "Not because Urijah doesn't want to fight at 145. Urijah has wanted to compete at both weights for the better part of a year and a half.

"This is not a permanent drop. Urijah is going to fight at both weight classes, and he wants to fight the best fights possible for the fans."

One of the reasons for Faber's double division aspirations is likely the close connections he's got with a number of bantamweight fighters at his Team Alpha Male camp, including Miguel Torres' next opponent Charlie Valencia, current Bantamweight Title challenger Joseph Benavidez and the next fighter in line should he get past Brad Pickett, Scott Jorgensen.

But Faber's still got plenty of challenges in the division, notably a possible super fight with Miguel Torres, but his manager also stated of those he's affiliated with, a fight with Jorgensen wouldn't be out of the question.

With a number of fights very possible in both divisions, Faber will look to string together a few wins and make another title run in at least one of the divisions over the next year and a half.

Penick's Analysis: It makes some sense for Faber to take fights at both weights, but if he's going to get serious about going toward a title shot he should concentrate on the bantamweight division. Aldo's got his number, and I can't see anything he could have done in their first fight that leads me to believe he could bring a different outcome in a rematch. I still really want to see the fight with him and Torres, but the prospect of a fight with him and Jorgensen is highly intriguing, and if they'd be up for it down the line that is absolutely a fight I'd want to see.

[Urijah Faber art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]