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On Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 13, UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber returned from a multi-year retirement to defeat surging bantamweight prospect Ricky Simon by knockout in just 46 seconds. The electrifying win paired with a post-fight callout of dual UFC champ Henry Cejudo has got “The California Kid” in the conversation for a fifth title shot in the octagon.
With other proven, legitimate contenders for Cejudo (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in both the bantamweight and flyweight divisions, though, there’s a debate to be had about whether Faber (35-10 MMA, 11-6 UFC) should get another shot at UFC gold. Should it happen? MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Steven Marrocco and Nolan King sound off in this edition of “Triple Take.”
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It would be completely unfair to the likes of Aljamain Sterling and Joseph Benavidez, but if the UFC wants to try to make the most out of this Faber comeback, there likely won’t be a better opportunity to insert him in a championship fight.
Forty-six seconds was all it took Faber to stop Simon in his first fight since December 2016, and it was the type of win the promotion can push on highlight reels and use as a selling point if he were to challenge for gold.
The reality is, Faber still has a solid amount of star power behind him, even at 40. More than any of the other potential challenges for Cejudo. There’s also the fact Faber and Cejudo have a genuine history dating back a decade, which would serve as another selling point for the matchup.
Going back to Cali in 2009…
Simpler times for @HenryCejudo and @UrijahFaber pic.twitter.com/lgMWAjC3tL
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 15, 2019
Faber was paid $340,000 to step in the octagon against Simon, and given the UFC’s history of business practices, it seems unlikely it will want to pay Faber that sum of money again without more return. The matchup with Simon was a good way to ease him back in, but now it’s time to get the most out of the investment.
Faber could become the first fighter in UFC history to compete for a belt after being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, and while it would certainly ruffle a lot of feathers with the contenders at 135 and 125 pounds, the UFC is in the business of putting together the most high-profile matchups possible. Even in 2020, Faber vs. Cejudo (who is still recovering from shoulder surgery) would appeal to the masses.
Plus, who doesn’t want to see how cringey this trash talking can get?
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