Cruz vs. Faber title fight remains on UFC 148, part of stacked PPV lineup
Although it'll no longer headline the event, a bantamweight title fight and rubber match between champion Dominick Cruz (19-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and longtime rival Urijah Faber (26-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will remain a part of UFC 148.
UFC officials today announced it'll co-headline the July event, which now features a headlining title fight between middleweight champion Anderson Silva (31-4 MMA, 14-0 UFC) and Chael Sonnen (27-11-1 MMA, 6-4 UFC).
Silva vs. Sonnen was moved from UFC 147 to UFC 148 earlier today, which promoted concerns Cruz vs. Faber might also be moved to a different event.
Instead, it'll now be part of the one of the most stacked cards in UFC history.
UFC 148 takes place July 7 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view, and FX and Facebook are expected to carry the prelims. In addition to the co-headliners, the card features notables such as Rich Franklin, Tito Ortiz, Rich Franklin and Michael Bisping.
Cruz and Faber currently serve as opposing head coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter: Live." Their tradition coach-vs.-coach bout takes place a month after the reality show's conclusion on FX.
It's their third meeting overall; Faber won the first at WEC 26 via submission to defend the WEC featherweight title, and in 2011, Cruz avenged the defeat with a unanimous-decision victory at UFC 132 to defend his UFC belt.
The latest UFC 148 card now includes:
Champ Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen (for middleweight title)
Champ Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (for bantamweight title)
Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le
Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz
Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch
Renan Barao vs. Ivan Menjivar
Fabricio Camoes vs. Melvin Guillard
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Gleison Tibau
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Demian Maia
Riki Fukuda vs. Constantinos Philippou
