An Interview with World Champion Urijah Faber

Urijah Faber is a professional MMA fighter and current World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) World Featherweight Champion. Faber grew up outside Sacramento, Calif., in the small town of Lincoln, where he played football and wrestled through high school. Faber attended UC Davis, where he earned his Bachelor of Science and competed on the wrestling team, finishing as the all-time win leader for the Aggies.

After completing his collegiate eligibility, Faber pursued Mixed Martial Arts, currently one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. Using his wrestling background and some jui-jitsu training, he quickly ascended the ranks of MMA fighters in the 145-pound weight class, winning his first belt in 2004. Faber is 19-1 and recently defended his belt against Chance Farrar as the headliner of the WEC's first live nationally televised fight card.

Beyond fighting, Faber is a co-owner of Ultimate Fitness, a gym in downtown Sacramento where he teaches grappling and kick boxing classes. After a recent kick boxing class, I stole a couple minutes from his busy schedule to interview "The California Kid."

Q: Right now, the UFC is synonymous with Mixed Martial Arts. When will the WEC get its day?

Faber: I think its time is now. We had the first live show on television a couple weeks ago. UFC fighters are moving down in weight class to fight in the WEC.

Q: Do you think the multiple organizations (UFC, WEC, IFL, Pride, etc.) have a positive or negative impact?

Faber: The more owners, the better. WEC and UFC are under the same parent company, Zuffa Entertainment, but the more growth from different owners means more competition, better fighters and more money for the fighters.

Q: ESPN had an MMA vs. boxing debate last week. The boxing advocate said MMA fighters are generalists; they practice multiple disciplines, but master none. Besides being inaccurate, what do you think of this perception?

Faber: MMA fighters are experts at MMA. MMA hit the mainstream in '94, so kids are growing up wanting to be MMA fighters. My training partner, Dustin Akbari, has been training MMA since he was 12 and can handle himself against a professional boxer, an NCAA DI wrestler or a black belt in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu. Other fighters move to MMA from another discipline, whether they are NCAA National Champion wrestlers, Golden Gloves boxers or Black Belts in Jui-Jitsu.

Q: What made you pursue a career as an MMA fighter?

Faber: I follow my heart. I knew I wasn't done competing. I started to get interested in MMA and started to get good at it. I enjoy the lifestyle of training and after I won a couple fights, I realized I could make a living as a fighter.

Q: Now that you are a world champion, what are your goals in the sport?

Faber: I want to make my name synonymous with the sport. There are some legends still fighting, guys like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell. I want to keep winning and be one of the best fighters in the world and in the history of the sport.

Q: At the end of the recent BJ Penn/Jens Pulver fight, Pulver announced he is moving down in weight class to 145 and leaving the UFC. UFC announcer Mike Goldberg said, "Watch out Urijah Faber." Is that a fight you would welcome?

Faber: I would like to fight Jens. I have watched him for a long time and it'd be an honor to fight him. And, I think I'd beat him. If he wins a couple fights after moving down and I keep winning, I'm sure it will happen in the future. I have a fight in September at the Hard Rock first.

Q: In addition to fighting, you have opened your own gym in Sacramento, CA called Ultimate Fitness. Right now, a couple fighters with big names like James Irvin and Scott Smith train at your gym. Are you looking to attract more big names in the game?

Faber: We're looking to create fighters here. We've started a kids program because lots of kids want to learn MMA now. We have great young guys like my training partner Dustin Akbari. Lots of guys want to train here because it is a quality gym. We have top level coaches in all the disciplines, on the ground and stand-up. Guys know they can train here and spar with great boxers and grapple with NCAA Champion wrestlers. We've created a home to learn and hone skills. My ideal situation is to continue learning things and to get better, and that's what the gym is about.