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Longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber will take on surging 22-year-old contender Michael McDonald on Dec. 14, 2013 at UFC on FOX 9, in his hometown of Sacramento, California.
Owner of a new eight-bout deal, "The California Kid" has 35 fights under his belt and at the age of 34, he isn't planning on giving up his spot in the 135-pound division to an up-and-coming fighter. In fact, Faber says he'd like to continue fighting past his current contract.
The first challenge of his new deal won't be an easy one, as "Mayday" will undoubtedly look to catapult himself up the bantamweight ladder (again) by defeating one of the biggest names in the sport.
For Faber, one of the motivating factors is to prove he's still one of the best bantamweights around and there is no better way to do it than to defeat a "scary kid" that's the most "dangerous striker" in the division.
His words during the 200th episode of "The MMA Hour:"
"This is why I got into the sport. To fight the best guys in the world and there is no doubt that Michael McDonald, in my opinion, is the most dangerous striker in our division. I mean, he knocks guys out, he rocks everybody, he's smaller but faster than most of the guys. It might be hard, but I think he could make a run at 125 pounds. He'll probably grow still, as a 22-year-old. He's a scary kid, period. And that has to excite you because the real motivator in there is instinctual. You're in a dangerous spot and you need to prove that you can survive and prove that you're the man and prove that you are the better fighter. I'm going to have to do that with every ounce of my effort."
Since losing to Renan Barao at UFC 149 for the interim 135-pound title last year, "The California Kid" has gone on to win three straight against Ivan Menjivar, Scott Jorgensen, and more recently, Yuri Alcantara.
And despite losing his first two title fights under the UFC banner, it isn't farfetched to believe Faber could be next in line to challenge for the division strap should he best "Mayday" in "Sac-Town."
As for McDonald, he'll look to earn himself a rematch against Barao, as well, by taking out one of the most-experienced fighters to ever step foot inside the cage. It won't be easy, as a red-hot Faber is determined to remain a staple in the division -- and MMA -- for a few more years to come.
How about it Maniacs, will there be a passing of the torch in the 135-pound division on Dec. 14? Or will Faber prove that experience trumps youth?
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