MMA Worldwide

Interview: Urijah Faber

Posted by RJ Clifford on the 19 October 2009 | No Comments

Ok, so today I'm with Urijah the California kid Urijah Faber. How are you feeling man?

Excellent man

Good, first things first. Your battle with mike brown, in the fight you had some damage to your hand, how’s it healing and when can we expect you back in the cage?

The hand is feeling good man, I was very proactive during the recovery and I was doing everything I could to speed up the process. Healed up in record time. I have basically been sparring for a month now and everything is going good. My thumb was dislocated on the left hand and that I can still feel a little bit, but everything is all-good.

Mike brown has a pretty hard head then?

Yeah I hit him as hard as I could, but my two little bones and the solid bone on the top of his head is probably not the best idea.

What exactly did you do to speed up that process because you said that you were able to heal in record time?

Um I was doing all sorts of stuff. I had basically got the bone stimulator, which I used every day. Then I used the hyperbaric chamber which increases the oxygen that gets things in the body; oxygen faster, helps recover faster, helps bone growth and all that stuff. I would stay in that thing an hour and a half four days a week. I was also with a physical therapist and hitting my legs real hard, making sure I stay in good shape.

You signed a brand new deal with the WEC, is that correct?

Yes I did

How long is that going to keep you in the WEC, how many fights and has you guys talked about your next opponent?

Six fight extension and tenatively. I heard I might be fighting in January and the name Javiel Centeno has been thrown around. They are also looking at Fabiano, but he just had a loss. So I’m basically ready for anyone, but those are the two guys I’ve heard them talk about. Nothing is signed.

About alpha male, it seems like all you guys are so energetic. Is that genetics, is there something in the water, what makes you guys like that?

I think it’s the way we train, we don’t take months off and get out of shape. We live a lifestyle that revolves around training. That’s what we do for a living and we take it serious. We do things along the mental side as well as the technical side of stuff. The guys are sharpening each other by being tough guys all around and its all-good stuff.

You have a compound out there where all you buddies live around each other, how is that?

Its sweet man! I bought a house about five years ago, where me and a bunch of my buddies helped pay the rent. Then one of my buddies bought the house next door. Then I bought a house over from them, and then we bought a house next to that one. And now we are at 5 houses. It fluxuats anywhere from 15-20 guys living on the block and then we got guys that live elsewhere and train at the gym. Its fun man, we have our times where we have some crazy stuff going on and most of the time there’s nothing going on.

Awesome! Its like our frat row can beat up your frat row.

Yeah it is pretty awesome.

Are there any guys we need to watch for who will be making their way to the big show?

Well one of my main training partners, Dustin Ackley had a win not to long ago. I believe that puts him at 4-1. He’s been one of my longest standing training partners and one of our best guys. He’s getting ready to make a move to the big show, either with Dream, UFC or the WEC. He’s a guy I’m looking forward to seeing him hit the big time. We also have Tito Jones, he’s fought in Strikeforce and lost a close decision to Quach, in which I though he should have won cause he almost knocked him out in the 3rd. We have a lot of guys that are certain to pop up soon.

About your division in general, the featherweight division is unlike other divisions, where the bulk of the guys are spread out everywhere. Still have some good Shooto guys, Dream, Sengoku, and have course the WEC. Do you still follow the guys in your division?

I used to a lot but over the last year and a half especially, it has been pretty condensed to the WEC. You know you have Bibiano [Fernandez] starting to make a name for himself, but still the bulk is now with the WEC.

Your thirty years old now and showing no signs of slowing down, at what point do you change your name from the California kid to the California adult?

Personality wise, I don’t think that will ever be the case, but I think i'm going to change my name to the California king or something. I think with the cal kid, I’ve had the same lifestyle and job since pretty much elementary school. Which is do sports, hang with my buddies, handle a little bit of business, eat good food and enjoy what I do.

Well California loves you and we’re glad to call you our own. Urijah Faber, always a great interview and thanks a lot for joining us today?

Thanks for having me guys, and stay turned cause I fight hopefully in January and i'm pushing for it to be in Sacramento and hopefully I will come back with a bang.