Urijah Faber apparently has the itch.
The former longtime featherweight champion has been out of action since a July bantamweight interim title fight loss to Renan Barao (29-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC). But after a bit of an uncertain future and timetable for a return, he appears to be ready to get back to work.
Faber (26-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) recently told FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight" that he hopes to return in the early part of 2013 and is hoping for a spot at UFC 156.
UFC 156 is the promotion's annual Super Bowl weekend card. It takes place Feb. 2 in Las Vegas with a featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar.
Following Faber's loss to Barao at UFC 149, he had to face the fact that he had five straight losses in title fights. He lost his WEC 145-pound title to Mike Brown, then lost to him in their rematch. After Aldo took the belt from Brown, Faber got a crack at him and lost by unanimous decision. Once in the UFC, Faber dropped to bantamweight. But at 135 pounds, he lost to rival Dominick Cruz by decision, then lost to Barao in the interim title fight after Cruz was injured.
But Faber knew one thing for certain after UFC 149 – he wouldn't be dropping one more division to flyweight.
"No way," he told MMAjunkie.com (
UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) after the fight with Barao. "I put on 18 pounds last night, and I would probably not be here if I was trying to get to 125. No, 135 is where I'll be."
Faber has been rehabbing a rib injury from the Barao fight, as well as other fight bumps and bruises. But with clearance, he's ready for whoever is next, and the UFC is believed to be targeting him for a spot on the card, as well.
Faber is not the first fighter to come out and campaign for a spot on the Super Bowl weekend card. Onetime welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck has made it known he'd love to fight Nick Diaz on the card, which traditionally is one of the UFC's biggest of the year.
