UFC 139 Results: Urijah Faber Earns Title Shot, Possible TUF Slot Against Dominick Cruz
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 20, 2011 1:00 PM EST
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Urijah Faber turned a lot of heads with his very impressive win over Brian Bowles last night at UFC 139. The former long time featherweight kingpin looked much improved, and dominated both standing and on the ground as he finished off his opponent to earn a title shot to complete the trilogy with Dominick Cruz.
The third fight between the two best bantamweights in the world was mentioned in the PPV broadcast, and Dana White confirmed the news on the press conference, and hints on a few things as well:
"I think Urijah looked good tonight... We've got some ideas we were getting together tonight and talking about. We've got to talk to Urijah and Cruz first. Cruz just had hand surgery, so he's out for a little bit, but we have an idea. We have a plan."
When asked about a possible coaching slot at the revamped The Ultimate Fighter planned for the promotion's debut at FX, White didn't comment, but Faber was very much open to the idea. He also campaigned for the TUF 15 coaching gig when he spoke to Ariel Helwani after the bout:
I have no idea (if the UFC will want us coach TUF)... but I would be great for TV. Dominick, with his widow's peak which I called out -- I know he slaps gel on it, and shaves his arms, he'd be good for TV too.
The coaching slots would be great for giving the much deserved exposure to the lighter weight classes. Both guys would be great for TV, and they would definitely be excellent choices for the new 'Jive-live' format that the Ultimate Fighter will have for their 2012 FX debut.
The two fighters are 1-1 in against each other. Faber handed Cruz the only loss of his career when he defended his featherweight title back in 2007, while 'The Dominator' won the second outing after earning a close decision on UFC 132.
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“Throw some gel in that widow’s peak and let’s do some work!”
Faber is such a nice dude and he’ll get into it with Cruz if he deals with him for weeks on end. It’ll be great TV.
Signed, Pick'em Champs 2011-2012: Michael Jordanesque in our picking skills.
by mountaineers101 on Nov 20, 2011 1:08 PM EST reply actions
"Dominick, with his widow's peak which I called out -- I know he slaps gel on it, and shaves his arms, he'd be good for TV too."
That’s pretty funny.
If they did a TUF, Faber would make Cruz look like an asshole. I feel like Cruz has the personality of a rock. Everybody knows Faber is an outgoing, likable person.
Honestly, Cruz has always seemed like a genuine, hardworking guy to me.
However, Uriah Faber looks the God-damn incarnation of a hi-five. Pretty easy to get overshadowed by that guy.
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It must be a delightful city and possess all the attractions of the next world" - Oscar Wylde
by SanFranpsycho on Nov 20, 2011 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
This might just be me, but Cruz seemed like a hard-working guy with his nose to the grindstone and Faber seemed like he talked a bunch of shit on a nice guy. This might just be me, but there you are. The whole “gel on widow’s peak” thing I didn’t really understand. Is that trash-talk or… what?
This man gets it.
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-Randall Munroe
Well, they supposedly "don't like each other"
The conflict stemmed from their WEC days, in which Dominick committed the ultimate WEC foul- placing his autograph on Faber’s face on promotional posters.
For some reason, this induces unfathomable rage in (former) WEC fighters.
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by ElliotMatheny on Nov 20, 2011 6:21 PM EST up reply actions
TUF 15: Flyweights.....
Cruz and Faber as coaches, 16 flyweights battling it out to become the “official #1 contender” for the new Flyweight UFC title….and you get Mighty Mouse to square off against Benavidez for the brand new title.
This could work with the marketing machine that the UFC will have at their disposal, as live fights every week featuring new flyweights getting exposure and advertisements for the new title fight (and Faber/Cruz on PPV) on FX, Fuel, and of course “big FOX”.
Want to establish the lighter weight classes? I’d buy this…
by DFreshMMA on Nov 20, 2011 1:28 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Not a bad concept, except they’d need to probably retain all 16 flyweights, so what would the point be to have TUF?
Signed, Pick'em Champs 2011-2012: Michael Jordanesque in our picking skills.
by mountaineers101 on Nov 20, 2011 1:35 PM EST up reply actions
establish a true #1 contender through "free tv" to market...
lets face it, most don’t know every top flyweight, but say you raid TPC and get these guys to agree and fight it out to see whos truly the best….and yes you retain all of them, as the division is still green and allows time for 135 lbers to drop down should they see fit.
The problem with making a flyweight division now
Is you completely gut the already very weak BW division.
Read: Toblerone Jones
I would venture to say 50% or more of current bantamweights could make flyweight.
Signed, Pick'em Champs 2011-2012: Michael Jordanesque in our picking skills.
by mountaineers101 on Nov 20, 2011 2:14 PM EST up reply actions
I dunno, Faber is kinda too pretty to be calling out other fighters for grooming themselves.
by The Hamburger Pimp on Nov 20, 2011 1:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions 4 recs
And with that bum-chin...
he can blow his nose and wipe his ass at the same time
Don't be scared Gomi...
by ThatsHowIRoll on Nov 20, 2011 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
Faber looked really impressive but I’m not sure we seen anything that would lead me to believe he’ll beat Cruz this time around
You Come At The King, You Best Not Miss
by Our Bovine Public on Nov 20, 2011 2:06 PM EST reply actions
I don't see why not
The second fight could have easily gone his way. Just depends on which dumbass judges get the call
by cletusvandam on Nov 20, 2011 4:05 PM EST up reply actions
I thought Cruz won tbh
You Come At The King, You Best Not Miss
by Our Bovine Public on Nov 20, 2011 5:19 PM EST up reply actions
Cruz
Maybe he had a shot because Cruz would do as much damage hitting you with a big fluffy pillow as he would hitting you with his fists.
by Ironbuddha on Nov 20, 2011 4:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
this reminds me of Jon Fitch. He’s always piping that he deserves another shot at GSP even though he hasn’t shown any real improvement or any sign that he’d do better the next time. Plus he also has ‘pillow hands’
You Come At The King, You Best Not Miss
by Our Bovine Public on Nov 20, 2011 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
Faber’s stand up seems to get better every fight. Look at his fights from a couple years ago and look at them now. He’s mixing up strikes to the body, using more diverse strikes, and also using them to set up takedowns. First fight was competitive, but most of all it was awesome.
by discoandherpes on Nov 20, 2011 6:54 PM EST up reply actions
I would still pick Cruz in the trilogy, but I do give Faber more of a chance to win after the way he defeated Bowles. Faber’s timing with his strikes seems to have improved, and there seems to have less recklessness in his fighting these days, in my observations.
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by chrisbboy82 on Nov 20, 2011 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
I'd have to agree with this
However, Bowles striking is no where near similar Cruz, so it’s really hard for me to use that as a gauge. On top of that, I worry about Faber’s complete inability to get Cruz to the ground in the second fight. Not being able to control the fight like that, could really hurt him, imo.
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Most of the time I am a rather quiet fellow, who likes to read about Philosophy, Mathematics and History, but like most people I also have a deep appreciation of sex and violence... - John Danaher
I give Faber more of a chance than I did, say, after Cruz vs Faber II. However, I feel that Cruz should be able to beat Faber when they fight again.
Check out the C&D Channel on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/Gobusiness123 for MMA reviews, predictions, analysis, and other MMA related content.
by chrisbboy82 on Nov 20, 2011 10:59 PM EST up reply actions
I like the trilogy fight
But only because there aren’t any other options for Cruz at this point.
And I don’t think they should coach the first TUF on FOX. This is going to be the first time millions of people are going to watch the show. I’d say go with more established names that could make for good coaches. Plus they just did BW and FW. Why not a Frankie Edgar/Ben Henderson? Just my opinion.
by The Armchair Juggernaut on Nov 20, 2011 4:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions
they're already scheduled for Japan card in February...
wouldn’t work time wise
You say go for more established names
Then mention Edgar and Henderson? Love Frankie Edgar but he’s not that much more known than Urijah.
by discoandherpes on Nov 20, 2011 6:56 PM EST up reply actions
I would argue that he's not as well known.
And I am an Edgar mark.
It's like saying you dislike Don Frye's mustache, which itself is the equivalent of spitting on the Constitution. - Anthony Pace
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