Urijah Faber vs Mike Brown 2 set for WEC 41 on Versus June 7

by James Iannotti on Mar 24, 2009 8:47 AM EDT

The featherweight championship rematch between current title holder Mike Thomas Brown (21-4) and former division kingpin Urijah "The California Kid" Faber (22-2) will take place at the yet to be announced WEC 41 on June 7, according to a report on FiveOuncesOfPain.com.

Back in November at WEC 36 Brown stepped in as the number one contender to face "The California Kid" in what was at the time the ex-world champion's sixth title defense. The American Top Team powerhouse shocked many by stopping the seemingly unbeatable Faber in the first round with a brutal barrage of strikes.

The newly crowned champion then cemented his status as one of the best at 145 pounds four months later by successfully defending that title with a first round technical knockout win over Greg Jackson product Leonard Garcia at WEC 39.

The promotion's 145-pound division has recently skyrocketed with talent. And the line of contenders is growing longer as each event passes. Still, it's hard to argue with Faber getting his shot at redemption first after his ridiculous reign as the champion before the setback to Brown.

The Capital City Fighting Alliance member's championship run included wins over Joe Pearson, Dominic Cruz, Chance Farrar, Jeff Curran and Jens Pulver ... a pretty impressive hit list to say the least. He also recently defeated Pulver for a second time with a first round submission win at WEC 38.

Brown has looked dominant in his last two performances. As for Faber, this is somewhat of a career defining fight for him -- Brown beat him in devastating fashion. How he responds to that adversity will determine what kind of champion he really is ... or isn't.

Faber's hometown of Sacramento, Calif., will likely host the festivities at the Arco Arena. And despite previous rumors of a potential move to pay-per-view for this specific event, WEC 41 will be aired live on the Versus network.

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Cool

by Haze on Mar 24, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions

Great fight but after seeing Brown’s last showing against Garcia I have to say he takes this. He is a monster. Faber’s strength is staying active almost to the point of being reckless at times. Brown will capitalize again and knock him out. Brown by KO of the butt chin in round two. This will be a tough loss for Faber and may send him packing. UFC lightweight division possibly?

by Boom Goes the Dynamite! on Mar 24, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions

He’s too small for 155, if he’s going anywhere it’s down to Bantamweight; Fabor looks small when he fights Pulver and Jens was small for 155 too.

by O damn he got caught on Mar 24, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

happy birthday to me!

by john on Mar 24, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

lol? today’s your birthday or this fights on your birthday???

by O damn he got caught on Mar 24, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

the fight is on my b-day

by john on Mar 24, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

i had a better one.. UFC 94

by Synyster on Mar 24, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice

by jjjjjjjjjjjj on Apr 3, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. You saw it when fabor clinched with Mike. He went into buzz saw mode and Mike just pushed him off with minimal effort.

Faber vs. Torres will be a cool fight after he decides Mike is too much for him.

by Punch You in the Ovaries on Mar 24, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Faber was going for a knee when he was pushed off, that’s why it seemed with minimal effort. But Faber did hurt Brown pretty bad with a prior knee that landed. Faber got cocky and got caught…simple as that.

by D on May 1, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Faber got a little to confortable in the cage. He come back and beat the living you know what out of Mike Brown. Brown threw a lucky sucker punch after Faber’s overconfidence caused him to throw a blind elbow. Faber will win.
GO FABER!

by jjjjjjjjjjjj on Apr 3, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

yes!!! fight of the year potencial!

by horny for mma on Mar 24, 2009 8:54 AM EDT reply actions

Faber better tighten up his striking a little bit. He won’t be able to out-muscle Brown. I think this rematch is going to be an all out war, with Faber eeking out a decision win. Whatever happens, its goingt to be really good for the FW division.

by --utaptout-- on Mar 24, 2009 8:55 AM EDT reply actions

Brown by another KO

by Bill Maher on Mar 24, 2009 9:10 AM EDT reply actions

brown actually beat garcia by submission (arm triangle choke)

by matt on Mar 24, 2009 9:47 AM EDT reply actions

Technical knockout just sounds so much cooler though right? Haha

by BrutalKnockout. on Mar 24, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

ha thats what i was just about to say

c’mon mania! do your research ha jk

by AzCombat on Mar 24, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Tough one to call….Brown may be in Faber’s head a little bit…. so for now I go with Brown

by Robert(1) on Mar 24, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

Nice…This will be a good one.

by FukStyck on Mar 24, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

You guys are nuts!!! Faber was doing good against brown last fight and got cocky and stupid…he is gonna beat the shit out of him this time. I am all in on faber..he is the champ!!!

by What? on Mar 24, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

faber was not doing good against brown in the last fight he was getting beat at every point in the fight, then he got dropped and pounded out. I think if he wants a chance this time around he is going to have to fight more cautious than what he normally does because brown is to good of a fighter to be making mistakes against. brown will pick faber apart if he is reckless.

by matt on Mar 24, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Um..thats why Brown had a cracked rib correct? He didn’t walk out the octagon, he’s was helped out. Faber gave him 2 muay thai knees to the left rib. Brown would not have answered the bell for the 2nd rd. UF Rocks, Go SACTOWN!!!!

by DirtbagHtr on Mar 24, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Nah, it was torn ligaments probly from torque he had going on that punch. He’s gonna drop faber again.

by NameNotRequired on Mar 24, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea bro. in the first fight Brown got a good punch in due to Faber’s Recklessness. He definitley was not owning Faber. And if your defining every point due to that one clench they got into, but “NEITHER” was able to do anything with as owning the entire fight then your pretty misguided. Watch the fight again. Faber showed good stand up as well.

by Ryan on Mar 31, 2009 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions

WHAT? what are you talking about. for the 3 minutes they fought brown scored a takedown he had faber hurt against the cage and finally he got the tko after he dropped him. the only way i see faber winning this is by beating brown by decision or making him gas. faber is very explosive and quick and he could tire brown out if he works him hard enough

do i give faber a chance : kind of

do i think brown will win. YESSS! by domination

by Jared on Mar 24, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

There is no way! I think that its going to be a good fight but Faber has the win this time. He just got cocky and too comfortable last time. He will be ready for this fight. I doubt he would blow it again, He loves that belt.

by Some guy on May 26, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions

im still rooting for faber
hes still one of my fav fighters

plus brown looks like fry and its hard to take him serious lol

by phenomenal angel on Mar 24, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

Its good to see at least one Zuffa-owned promotion is putting on title defenses on a regular basis. It seems every WEC event has a title defense, and given that they have fewer weight-classes, these title defenses happen more often for each champion, good stuff.

by Belisarius on Mar 24, 2009 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

I hope FABER woops his ass…I swear that was a lucky punch by brown last time. Garcia was not a top dawg to be fighting browin in the first place. Faber should be able to take brown apart in this fight because if you watched the last one you can tell brown was looking for that one hit. Thats exactly how he won cause little faber ran into a close line lol

by What? on Mar 24, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

At WEC in San Diego, I was 3 rows back from the walkway and would see Brown walk back and forth from backstage. I’d yell “lucky punch”, and Brown would turn around and I just stared at him. Obviously its not the first time he’s been told that and he has a complex about it. FAber rocks!!

by DirtbagHtr on Mar 24, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

lol you guys are both pathetic… lucky punch? faber turned his back and came at brown with his head turned, what did you think was gonna happen?

by brendan on Mar 24, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

If he got punched square in the face, how could his head be turned.. Notice Brown just threw a hay maker, bc his head was beside FAber’s right side, and his fist was a bit behind him, so he didn’t see it through…review the tape, and again, he wouldn’t have answered the bell cuz of his cracked rib.

by DirtbagHtr on Mar 24, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

this story makes you cool. way to go; beaking off at brown like that. i bet you tell everyone that story to demonstrate how tough you think you are.

by JB on Mar 24, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually no, I’m only 5-1’ and Brown would pound me..But it shows Brown has been told that before.

by DirtbagHtr on Mar 30, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

i dunno about lucky but he admitted he swings for fences, if u get caught its gonna hurt. faber needs to win with speed, be elusive i think

by phenomenal angel on Mar 24, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

faber was getting tooled, brown was dominate, the lucky punch was not lucky, the wild elbow was sloppy and brown took his head off, im giving faber very little chance in this fight, brown will champ for some time.

by Blazy J on Mar 24, 2009 3:33 PM EDT reply actions

I can’t stand Faber but I think he will win this fight.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 24, 2009 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

Also can’t stand Faber and i KNOW Brown will destroy him!
Can’t wait!

by Lester the Pimp on Mar 24, 2009 4:59 PM EDT reply actions

you know brown will destroy him huh pimp? you must of forgot that faber is p4p one of the best. He lost because he was over confident. Now he knows what brown is all about, and will bring his A game. And he wont be throwing that reckless elbow this time either.

by CH CH Chuuuuck Liiiiddelllll on Mar 24, 2009 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

doesn’t matter i KNOW brown will beat him also.

by Blazy J on Mar 24, 2009 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

Not much point in them even fighting then.

Say, what are next week’s lotto numbers?

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 24, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

thats the biggest problem with the wec, it tends to be one dominate champ and only one or two contenders, at 145 the best IS brown, and the only comp is faber, garcia, and pulver, maybe din thomas if he comes to wec but thats about it. faber has as good a chance at brown, as pulver has agenst him. can’t wait for garcia vs faber though.

by Blazy J on Mar 24, 2009 6:24 PM EDT reply actions

uhhh what about jose aldo, and wagney fabianno not to mention the kid could possibly come later this year and with 2 featherweight tourneys going on theres a possibility that the wec will bring in more comp. if you ask me theres plenty of good 145’ers

by Jared on Mar 24, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

what happened to faber is what happens to champions when they dominate for a long period. they get careless and sloppy in the name of being creative. essentially, they get bored. same thing happened to silva against cote. silva never got caught but the principle applies. boredom from lack of competition.

by JB on Mar 24, 2009 7:18 PM EDT reply actions

so my prediction is that faber refocuses, sticks to a solid gameplan, and wins the fight.

by JB on Mar 24, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Good analogy. It’s hard to stay really focused when you’re kicking everybody’s ass.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 24, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

dana white was hoping 2 put this card on ppv or atleast this fight anyone know if thats still the plan?

by big skins on Mar 30, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

Faber with flying knee and loses fight.

by hairyfist on Mar 30, 2009 8:21 PM EDT reply actions

Faber wins this one! He just got caught with a lucky punch the first fight.

by JT on Apr 3, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

faber is to fast for brown if faber moves in and out and maybe takes him to the grond he will win for sure go faberr!! sac town

by tre on Apr 7, 2009 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions

i see faber winning the fight he is way to fast for brown if faber can use his speed and move in and out and maybe take down brown he will win for sure go faber! sac town!!!! ill be at the fight

by tre on Apr 7, 2009 3:36 AM EDT reply actions

You are so lucky…

by Some guy on May 26, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I cant say who will win this one i like both. brown is more powerful. faber is faster. but skill they are about =. neither are going to make mistakes. and in the first fight they both kind of goty lucky. brown with the punch kind of because faber did make a careless mistake and we know it but if the hit wouldnt connected i dont know if brown would be able to keep up later in the fight. so for the rematch brown wants to keep it stand up and faber should probably go to ground game.

by lestat on Apr 13, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions