Faber, unchanged by ‘whirlwind’ 2007, keeps the focus on his fight game

By Thomas Gerbasi

If you browse your local newsstand or hit the VERSUS network while switching channels and see the face of Urijah Faber looking back at you, it may be hard to believe that just 14 months ago, ‘The California Kid’ was battling it out on the local show circuit, hoping for a break that may have just been a dream given the fact that the UFC didn’t have a weight class for featherweights like Faber.

But even as he approached 30, Faber held out hope and didn’t start thinking of other ways of making a living if the fight game didn’t work out for him. As he puts it, “I never really had a timetable like that. I’ve said time and time again that I’m not much of a planner. (Laughs) The women in my life don’t exactly enjoy that too much, but I just follow my passion. I hadn’t even thought about what I would do had it not worked out. I have a college degree from a good university (UC Davis) and I know a lot of people and opened a lot of doors for myself, so I never felt like I was gonna be in a hard spot. I followed my passion and it led me into a lifestyle where I can do what I want all the time. I’ve been lucky and I followed my heart.”

True, because while skill, charisma, and determination definitely played huge roles in Faber’s eventual ascension to the role of ‘Golden Boy’ for the WEC, a little luck came into play when Zuffa bought the organization and VERSUS came on board to televise live events as well as air shows featuring past fights. From that moment on, Faber is right on point when he describes 2007 as a “whirlwind”.

The last 12 months have seen Faber on cross country PR tours, in photo shoots, on radio and television, and in numerous print and online publications. He also found time to go 3-0 in defense of his crown, with each fight ending in the first round. For a 145-pound mixed martial artist, it’s a run that couldn’t have been predicted.

“At some level I imagined this, but I didn’t imagine that it would be so fast,” admitted Faber. “I kinda had a vision in my mind, but it’s just as of late that it’s become a reality. And there was a while there when I was wondering if it was gonna happen at all. I’ve done this for the love of the sport, and I happened to be at the right place at the right time in a lot of different things.”

But with an energetic and punishing style in the Octagon, and an affable personality and marketable look outside of it, it’s more than just timing, and WEC brass knew this. So it goes without saying that when it comes to presenting the sport to journalists and other media members who are getting their first exposure to it, there are few better ambassadors than the 28-year old from Sacramento.

“It’s not a lot of pressure for me,” he said. “It’s a cool experience for me and I feel like I’m definitely a good person to do it because I’m outspoken and a fan of the sport. I really know the sport inside and out and I think it’s good that I can add to my love of the sport by helping it grow and I look forward to continuing that.”

That probably means some interesting questions from newcomers to the sport, right?

“People ask all sorts of stuff, and they seem to think that tattoos are associated with being tough,” he chuckles. “A lot of people judge a book by its cover, and they’re shocked that I’m in the position that I’m in, just because I look so ordinary. I don’t necessarily look like a prizefighter.”

Looks can be deceiving – just ask the 19 fighters Faber has defeated in his four year pro career. But there are still skeptics, those who wonder whether he is more hype than substance.

“My lifestyle hasn’t changed, and whatever people are saying doesn’t really bother me,” said Faber. “I continue to do my thing, which is to train my butt off, and I’m always looking to improve. There are guys out there that are very, very tough that I’ve fought and they just aren’t able to hang, so they can say all they want, but it doesn’t bother me the least bit. Until somebody gets in here and beats me up and makes me feel like I’m not a fighter, then I’ll worry about that, because that would bother me more than anything.”

His next fight may be his toughest test though, as he takes on veteran Jeff Curran in the main event of what may be the biggest and best WEC card ever. And in the lead up to the fight there has been plenty of talk about Curran, the seasoned competitor who has been fighting pro since 1998, and Faber, the young gun getting all the attention, and the differences in the way both came up in the sport.

“Jeff Curran came from a background where he was competing in mixed martial arts while I was competing in college,” explains Faber. “But we were both competing and I’m sure I had a lot more competitions than he did, although he has more fights than me. He definitely has more experience in the fight game, but as far as competing and being an athlete, we’re about on equal playing fields here.”

And a win for Faber will continue to set him apart as one of the best – if not the best – 145-pounders in the game.

“He’s definitely a worthy opponent, I feel like he’s very, very talented and I look forward to fighting and stealing some of his accolades, because he’s fought in some big shows against some great people,” said Faber, and one of those ‘great people’ Curran has fought is the man on top of Faber’s personal wish list – Japanese star Norifumi ‘Kid’ Yamamoto.

“I think it’s a fight that’s destined to happen, and before I’m done I’m sure that will be a fight for me, but for right now, I’m focusing on Jeff Curran,” said Faber, but with Curran dropping a hard fought three round decision to Yamamoto in 2003, if Faber can finish the ‘Big Frog’ it would definitely make a statement.

“I think this is definitely a fight where I’m gonna be sending a message, and it’s the same for him (Curran),” said Faber. “He’s looking to make a name for himself and this is probably the biggest opportunity he’s ever had. By beating him, I’ll definitely put a lot of naysayers out of business, but I think finishing him is even more important because he’s hard to finish and I’m known for finishing guys.”

And with a win, there will be more photo shoots, more interviews, and an even higher profile for Urijah Faber in 2008. But don’t expect ‘The California Kid’ to change.

“I feel like this is definitely something that’s good for my career, but it hasn’t changed my lifestyle much,” said Faber of life in the spotlight. “I’ve got my own little neighborhood here, my training regimen, and when I’m traveling, doing business, and doing interviews and photo shoots, the core of my existence doesn’t change. I just train all the time, and I’m dealing fine with it. Aside from more people knowing who I am on the street, life hasn’t changed too much and I don’t expect it to.”