By: SHAWN W. SMITH
Fighters are supposed to taper off after a decade in mixed martial arts.
It’s the kind of sport where a fighter’s prime is so short, if you blink it’s gone. A constant strain on your knees, hands, face and brain make anything more than a few years of combat a dangerous proposition. At 32, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua is only a shell of the fighter who stormed through the PRIDE ranks. At 35, B.J. Penn isn’t considered near the fighter he was at 28.
But at 34, Urijah Faber seems just be picking up speed. For the first time since 2007, Faber fought four times in a year in 2013, picking up four victories and three submission stoppages. Many had him high in contention for fighter of the year polls and pegged as the top contender for the bantamweight title.
The highly-anticipated showdown between Dominick Cruz and Renan Barao was scheduled to headline UFC 169. On the line was supposed to be the same bantamweight championship that Faber had already unsuccessfully challenged for twice, but when Cruz fell out with yet another injury, vacating his title in the process, Faber was the fighter to step up.
Finding out only half a day before the fight became official, Faber was forced to jump straight into training camp. Fighting Barao on a full training camp is a dangerous proposition most fighters would shy away from, but doing so on three weeks’ notice is considered downright scary.
“I’m the type of guy that likes to seize an opportunity, I take pride in that,” explained Faber. “I think it’s an intelligent thing to do. You can see with guys like Dominick Cruz, who has been out for two and a half years now, you never know what’s going to happen. If you get a great opportunity and you take it, you’ll have no regrets.”
Faber knows this is the kind of opportunity he can’t pass up at this point in his career. This being his third bantamweight title opportunity since joining the UFC, another loss would likely garner him gatekeeper status for the remainder of his career. Despite this, there’s no denying the success Faber has had throughout his career. A pioneer of the featherweight division in North America, Faber was the face of WEC for years. His streak of impressive performances is one of the reasons the division has become to established and competitive as it is today.
Faber knows as well as anyone that there is one crowning achievement missing. He knows that a UFC championship on his mantel would secure his legacy and validate his years of dedication and hard work.
“I’ve been at this for 11 years as a professional fighter,” he explained. “For me, I just keep trying to learn. This is the thing you have to do in this sport. There are so many guys coming into it. It’s just a sought after thing at this point. I’ve trained with a lot of guys, lots of new knowledge, and I’ve been consistent. I expect to be better every single time I get in that cage and I’m definitely in that position now as well.”
His training team, Team Alpha Male, saw a major boost in 2013 with the addition of Duane “Bang” Ludwig as a striking coach. A pioneer of the lower weight classes in his own right, Ludwig’s impression on the camp was instantly noticeable. Standout performers such as Joseph Benavidez, Chad Mendes and T.J. Dillishaw all showed marked improvement in their striking.
As important as it is for Faber to capture UFC gold, it’s just as important for Ludwig. A championship victory in the world’s most prestigious MMA promotion would legitimize Ludwig as a world-class trainer. He is aware that he was brought in for the purpose of defeating Nova Uniao standouts Barao and Jose Aldo, whether it is with Faber, Mendes, Dillashaw, or any of the other standouts from Team Alpha Male.
“I feel like I know him (Barao pictured above) pretty well,” said Faber. “You have to have your eye on the guy. You’re paying attention to what he does. I feel like he does the same thing every fight, he’s just really good at it. Knowing that, I just have to be aware of his strengths and look for my opportunities. It’s not like he’s becoming a different fighter, he’s just getting better at his own craft. That’s how I’m approaching this fight.”
There’s no overstating the importance of this fight for Faber, Ludwig and Team Alpha Male. The camp has been producing stellar talent for years, but has not been able to capture gold since Faber lost his WEC featherweight belt to Mike Brown in 2008. It’s a string of losses that weighs heavy on Faber, the camp leader. A win for Faber would end the streak, garner him the accolades of being a world champion, and push others in the camp towards capturing their own world championships.
“I don’t want to be fighting into my fourties, that’s for sure,” he laughed. “I really enjoy what I’m doing and that’s the most important thing. When I stop enjoying it, I’ll probably stop fighting. Who knows when that is going to be. I won’t be fighting for another 10 years, that’s for sure. Probably three years sounds about right.”
The fight against Barao is as do-or-die as it gets in the fight business. For five straight title fights, Faber has witnessed the championship belt be wrapped around someone else’s waist. It’s the kind of deflating action that could strip many fighters of their will. But Faber continues to fight on. His positivity and desire to leave a legacy force him to wake up and push himself to the brink on a daily basis. With father time closing in, this is one last attempt to make history.
“I’m not planning ahead,” said Faber. “I’m planning right up to this fight. I don’t even know what I’m doing after the fight. My life is planned up until February 1. I haven’t thought about anything else.”
There’s very little room for error. You just have to make sure your weight is on point. Just try and get a little bit of sparring in and be in great shape.
I’m not sure if that does. I’m fighting a guy that is very good. Against a guy that is less seasoned it might, but I’m not going to use that as a reason to give myself an edge. I think this guy is pretty comfortable anywhere.
I haven’t been dwelling on it. This year has been so active, basically the whole year was a training camp. I’ve been preparing and then fighting and then preparing and fighting.
Yeah, I do a little bit. I’m the type of guy that likes to seize an opportunity, I take pride in that. I think it’s an intelligent thing to do. You can see with guys like Dominick Cruz, who has been out for two and a half years now, you never know what’s going to happen. If you get a great opportunity and you take it, you’ll have no regrets.
When you’re fighting in title fights, you’re fighting world champions or number one contenders. Most of my career has been title fights. It just so happens that I’ve only lost six times and I’ve only lost against very good guys. I don’t really see it like that, it’s kind of just a coincidence.
I’ve been at this for 11 years as a professional fighter. For me, I just keep trying to learn. This is the thing you have to do in this sport. There’s so many guys coming into it. It’s just a sought after thing at this point. I’ve trained with a lot of guys, lots of new knowledge, and I’ve been consistent. I expect to be better every single time I get in that cage and I’m definitely in that position now as well.
I think there is definitely time. You’re just continuing to get into practice and a lot of it is repetition. The more you’re preparing for something, the more repetition you’re getting in. We did a lot of drilling this year, especially with Duane Ludwig in the room. We did a lot more drilling in the stand up game especially. I’m always a really instinctive fighter and that repetition helps out.
I’m not planning ahead. I’m planning right up to this fight. I don’t even know what I’m doing after the fight. My life is planned up until February 1. I haven’t thought about anything else.
Not 100 per cent. I don’t want to be fighting into my fourties, that’s for sure. I really enjoy what I’m doing and that’s the most important thing. When I stop enjoying it, I’ll probably stop fighting. Who knows when that is going to be. I won’t be fighting for another 10 years, that’s for sure. Probably three years sounds about right.
I feel like I know him pretty well. You have to have your eye on the guy. You’re paying attention to what he does. I feel like he does the same thing every fight, he’s just really good at it. Knowing that, I just have to be aware of his strengths and look for my opportunities. It’s not like he’s becoming a different fighter, he’s just getting better at his own craft. That’s how I’m approaching this fight.
