Local MMA Fighter Maintains WEC Featherweight Belt at ARCO Arena
June 1, 2008

Local MMA fighter Urijah Faber took on the only other man who could stop him in his steam roller of a ride as the World Extreme Cagefighting’s feisty featherweight division.  The talk of the town for month’s leading up to the big event, locals from Davis to Folsom have been talking about the historic match-up.

Faber, already the featherweight champion and former NCAA wrestling god at UC Davis,  had been chided by some as not having taken on any  major fighters. Jens Pulver is known and respected by any real fan of MMA as the major fighter who would put Faber down - he did not.

“I didn’t really tell anyone that I was going to stand because I don’t want to hear people tell me not to do it. I know how good my hands are. I’ve been working on them for five friggin’ years now.” - Faber

Although he’s from Santa Barbara, Urijah Faber, aka “The California Kid” attended UC Davis where he wrestled in the NCAA. He now claims Sacramento which is just fine by local MMA (Mided Martial Arts) fans, but any west coast MMA fan is probably now claiming him. The WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting) featherweight champion had been chided by doubters that he hadn’t fought any major brawlers, but his victory over Jens Pulver, a UFC bad boy, surely squashed that idea.

The fight went to decision after 5 rounds, the longest Urija had been thru to date. Pulver was expected to show Urijah a thing or two in the stand-up game, and Urija was expected to take the fight to the ground. None of that happened as Pulver defended well against Faber’s notorious takedown skills and instead, went head-to-head all night trading blows with Pulver who is known as the supreme puncher. In the end, Faber took a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-44).

In the post-fight interview, Urijah said of Pulver and the fight…

“He’s such a legend in this sport. He’s one of my heroes. This fight meant so much to me. There’s no give in me. It’s the first time I’ve ever gone five rounds. It was a good test for me and proof of things I already believed.

In 2003, Urijah pulled $400 a fight, reports on last night’s payday hover just over six figures. Urijah owns Ultimate Fitness in Midtown Sacramento where he trains and hopes to franchise his gym.

VIDEOS: WEC Interview | Sac Bee - A funny video on Faber’s myspace page sheds light on his sense of humor.

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