UFC on Fox 9 featured a co-main event clash between two of the sport’s finest bantamweights, as Urijah Faber took on Michael McDonald.
The fight, which was expected to be an evenly contested, high-energy showcase between two stellar athletes, proved that the old guard still reigns supreme inside the Octagon.
After winning the first round through a few minutes of top control and accurate strikes on the feet, Faber unleashed the fury in Round 2.
With a hard right, Faber sent McDonald stumbling to the canvas, and the Team Alpha Male product swarmed with a furious flurry that McDonald simply could not escape.
Faber cinched up his patented guillotine choke amid a mad scramble, and McDonald had no choice but to tap out.
Impressive showing, Mr. Faber.
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
We’ll remember Faber’s excellence.
Many felt the older, more battle-worn fighter would struggle against McDonald on the feet, but “The California Kid” clipped his challenger several times on the feet before eventually sinking in the fight-ending guillotine choke.
Faber won Round 1, and he ended the fight in Round 2.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
What We Learned About Faber
Faber is still getting better.
Facing a dangerous, young and hungry fighter, Faber put on a masterful performance and dismantled his foe from start to finish.
This was a one-sided beatdown, and it showed Faber still sits firmly atop the bantamweight mountain.
What We Learned About McDonald
McDonald is still not the top-shelf bantamweight whom we expect him to be.
His power makes him super dangerous at any point in time, but he was outclassed in every area of the game against Faber. He still needs to evolve as a mixed martial artist before he sniffs UFC gold.
Unfortunately for him, that chance will not present itself in the near future.
What’s Next for Faber?
A shot against the winner of UFC 169’s title fight between Dominick Cruz and Renan Barao is next. There is no question he has earned this opportunity after the devastating win over McDonald.
What’s Next for McDonald?
McDonald takes an unfortunate tumble down the 135-pound ladder after getting manhandled by Faber.
Thankfully, he is still very young, and he is a fantastic athlete and all-around mixed martial artist. Faber was at his best in front of his hometown crowd, and “Mayday” just got caught.
Give him Takeya Mizugaki, and we’ll see if he is ready to jump back into title contention.
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