Following his victory over Brian Bowles, Urijah Faber has earned a rematch against rival Dominick Cruz to challenge for the UFC bantamweight title.
While no official date has been announced, it is possible that both Cruz and Faber could be opposing coaches on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Faber had suggested the idea to UFC President Dana White during the post-fight press conference this past weekend following UFC 139, and while White didn’t agree to the proposal, he didn’t necessarily rule out the possibility either.
Faber and Cruz previously met at UFC 132, which saw Cruz retain his bantamweight title via unanimous decision. The matchup saw both competitors gain momentum throughout the duration of the bout, but Cruz’s speed and unorthodox striking proved to overwhelm the former WEC featherweight champion.
Since then, Cruz successfully defended the title against Demetrius Johnson at UFC on Versus 6 earlier this year.
The concept of featuring Faber and Cruz as opposing coaches would certainly appeal more fans and the exposure of the 145-pound and 135-pound weight classes would only heighten the popularity of the respective divisions.
It’s evident that fans have taken an interest in the lighter weight classes, as TUF 14’s ratings have been steadily consistent on a weekly basis. Add to the fact that this past season has featured some excited bouts and the UFC has another marketable weight class to promote and new talent to add to its roster.
Both Faber and Cruz each hold a victory over one another and this will be mark the third bout between the two rivals..
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