Urijah Faber keeps getting title shots because no contenders can knock him far enough down the ladder where he no longer matters. “The California Kid” is 0-5 in his last five cracks at gold, but he might have yet another chance to win a belt.
On Saturday night, he finished his second straight top 10 opponent, forcing Scott Jorgensen to tap out to a rear naked choke at 3:16 of the fourth round.
“I’ve known for a long time how tough Scott is,” Faber said after the TUF 17 Finale main event. “He got me with some good punches. We were going back and forth. It’s incremental things at the highest level. He made one mistake and I was able to capitalize.”
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The finish came off a scramble as Faber’s speed allowed him to get to Jorgensen’s back. At that point, a hand-fight ensued with Faber getting his choking arm beneath Jorgensen’s chin, and soon after, it was a wrap.
Jorgensen certainly made a fight of it.
While Faber controlled the first with a diverse striking attack and a near-guillotine, Jorgensen and his corner got back into it with excellent adjustments. Jorgensen began throwing combinations and moving forward, keeping Faber on his heels. By the third, it seemed he was very much back into the fight and putting fans on notice for the upset.
The fourth round began much the same way for Jorgensen, but that momentum ended as Faber enforced his scrambling and grappling advantage for his 16th career submission.
Faber has now won six straight non-title fights, improving to 28-6. Jorgensen is now 14-7.