Retired UFC Hall-of-Famer Urijah Faber explains why he is keeping himself in the USADA testing pool.
Former WEC champion Urijah Faber fought his last professional MMA fight in December 2016 against Brad Pickett. “The California Kid” won the fight via unanimous decision and subsequently retired from competition after a 13-year run.
The 38-year-old Faber, however, continues to comply with the drug testing procedures of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). According to him, the choice of remaining in the testing pool is to keep himself ready for whatever opportunity that may arise.
“I spent a lot of time getting really great at fighting,” Faber told Submission Radio. “I’m able-bodied and healthy. I train just as much or more than some of the guys that are active.”
“It’s not my goal necessarily (to keep actively training), it’s just the habits that I’ve created in my life. I’m always open to entertain any business opportunity or offer, and I love things that I love to do.”
Faber is not at all hassled by the random pop-ins by USADA agents. Having held a reputation of being a clean fighter throughout his career, it is simply another day in the office for him.
“I still get tested from USADA just because I’ve never taken drugs in my life, so I don’t really care about that,” Faber said. “If there was a big opportunity and someone wanted you to fight, and it sounds like a good idea, I wouldn’t want to wait four months to get cleared when I’m not doing drugs anyways.”
Faber revealed that the last big opportunity that was presented to him was the UFC 196 main event fight against Conor McGregor, a bout that eventually went to Nate Diaz.