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Urijah Faber considers adapting his fight style based on how MMA judges score fights

By Zach Arnold | July 5, 2011

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Quotes from an interview he did on Tuesday with Bruce Buffer for Sherdog.

Thoughts on his UFC 132 fight against Dominick Cruz & how the judges scored the fight

“I felt like I won right after the fight, that was my initial feeling. I think that’s because I didn’t really get hurt in the fight and I feel like I hurt him a couple of times. But you can’t really complain about a close fight, you know, it’s up to discretion and although it feels like most people don’t really, most people… don’t really, uhhh… don’t really know what the judges are talking about. I mean, it feels like these days the MMA judges are so off the rocker, like you don’t really know what you’re trying to do out there, you know. It’d be great if we had like some consistency but Dominick fought a good fight, I fought a good fight, I tried to go for the finish, I don’t really think about decisions very much and I think I need to start being a little more cognizant of that, you know.

“I definitely feel like I could have been more of a person that put on the appearance of winning the fight rather than trying to finish the fight and I think that was the difference.”

Will we see match #3 between Mr. Faber & Mr. Cruz?

“I’m almost positive we’re going to have a rematch and I think it needs to happen to find out who’s the boss. I don’t feel like I was threatened at all. I feel like I could have done. He probably feels like he could have done more. I mean, I think it needs to happen. I don’t know if it will happen right away because there are other guys who have earned shots like Demetrious Johnson and Brian Bowles and even Joseph Benavidez who’s been just killing guys. So I’m not like demanding it but I know it’s going to happen. I’m not going to get beat, uh, I’m going to keep coming for that belt and it’s just a matter of time, so whether it’s right away or if I have to win a couple or whatever the case, I’m ready to go again and I think Dana (White), Lorenzo (Fertitta), and everyone else wants that and I think it needs to happen.”

Will Urijah Faber stay at Bantamweight?

“I think so, you know, I’m getting more and more comfortable at the weight. It’s my only third fight at the weight and I’m getting a hold of my weight. The recovery process, knowing how much I’m going to weigh after the weigh-ins, that’s a big part of it, you know, because when I know what I go right back up to, I can kind of stay at that weight for my whole training camp instead of like, you know, breaking my body down and trying to get lower and all that stuff and I feel incredible, man. I’m getting better and better.

“That fight this weekend has motivated me, made me want to get back in the gym and work on some things and I really feel like I got caught up in trying to knock Dominick out because, you know, when you’re in a grudge match like that where there’s animosity and there’s something to prove, it gets down to the most brutal stuff and you want to try to knock the guy out. So, I think I could have been a little bit smarter, especially considering that it did go to the decision and taking that into account. But I don’t want to lose that edge of just trying to go for the kill.”

Also mentioned in the interview with Bruce Buffer, Urijah says that he is an avid reader of Napoleon Hill. He also asked Bruce if he could record a phone message announcing Urijah as the new UFC Bantamweight champion of the world so that he can listen to the ‘call’ and put it into his mind so he can visualize it to help with his training.

Check out his upcoming charity golf tournament.

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 15 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

15 Responses to “Urijah Faber considers adapting his fight style based on how MMA judges score fights”

  1. 45 Huddle says:

    I don’t care what judging style you have….. Faber did not win that fight.

    So if his plan is to change his style to: “I am going to do more then my opponent to win”…. Then it would be a smart plan.

  2. Jason says:

    I can’t frickin stand Urijah, he’s a different whinny version of Tito Ortiz. Dude you got beat, man up. Problem is he did everything he could to win and he didn’t. Dominick made Urijah miss with a ton of his strikes, defended the takedown numerous times and took him down.

  3. Shane says:

    Cruz also got knocked on his ass three times, and Faber left the fight without so much as a scratch.

  4. THE HUNTER says:

    Agree ^

    What ‘style’ is Faber going to adapt to? A style that lands more punches? Oops, that ‘style’ won’t work to well, as he can’t hit Cruz. Maybe a ‘style’ that gets takedowns? Oops, don’t see that being to successful, as he can’t take Cruz down.

  5. jackman says:

    He got beat up??? Hardly.

    I didnt think he necessarily won but I gave him two rounds.

    Cruz is great at winning fights. He is not actually great at fighting. Making someone miss and defending the takedown is called defense. This guy has ZERO offense. Extremely boring if you ask me. (btw I am not a Urijah Faber fan by any means- I think he is stiff and not very dynamic)

  6. edub says:

    Sonnen’s fighting Stann in Texas. Fight is scheduled for October 8th.

  7. […] Here’s part of what he said to Bruce Buffer on Sherdog Radio, transcribed by Zach Arnold of Fight Opinion: …it feels like these days the MMA judges are so off the rocker, like you don’t really […]

  8. Chromium says:

    So, when they re-up their current contracts, then will Faber and Cruz et. al get paid like elite fighters?

    • Mark says:

      There’s elite fighters and then those that draw money. ie Rampage is mediocre but draws so he’s paid, but Frankie Edgar is elite, but he doesn’t draw. I doubt Cruz would ever draw a dime, so no.

      • Chromium says:

        Would you really argue that Urijah Faber is 1/14th the draw that Tito is? Because that’s how their paychecks broke down.

        Also, it’s irritating when people say someone who isn’t in the highest echelon of popularity “doesn’t draw a dime.” There’s this concept called “the tipping point.” It’s one of the reasons why we have undercards that aren’t pure filler. Anyone who can make a card more intriguing will add buys to it because it can push people who were on the fence into buying it, even if they aren’t the top draw on the card or even if they aren’t one of the top five draws on the card.

      • Chromium says:

        Also

        Mark – “Rampage is mediocre”

        What the hell are you smoking?

  9. IceMuncher says:

    Urijah is at his best when he’s fighting like a scrappy grappler. Isn’t that how be beat Cruz the first time? Faber seems like he has fallen in love with striking though, and his wrestling and record have suffered for it.

  10. Decan says:

    Can’t wait to see Yoel Romero vs. Jack Hermansson fight, it should be interesting. Unfortunately, I live outside the US, so I need to use a VPN like Surfshark. It’s a tool that can change your IP address to make it look like you’re in another country. More information you can find here https://tipsfromgeeks.com/guides/best-stream-for-ppv-ufc/

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