Having gone 5-5 over his past 10 contests—five wins coming in non-title fights, five losses coming in title matches—Urijah Faber most definitely finds himself at a crossroads.
The California Kid’s next match will be somewhat telling of his career trajectory, not only in terms of outcome, but in terms of opponent.
Will it be a big name? A rising star? A hungry up-and-comer? Will it be someone Faber can climb over en route his return to contention or someone who may use the legend’s name as a stepping stone? Or, maybe both?
Whether the UFC still views Faber as a monetary draw and viable title fighter will be implicit in who they choose as his next opponent.
There are a number of options out there that each make sense in their own way, the possibilities not even being firmly restricted by weight class.
Will Faber’s next fight be at bantamweight or featherweight?
And when might it take place?
Rather than proceeding directly to asking the remaining “W questions,” of “where” and “why,” I have instead decided to list five fighters who may turn out to be the former WEC champion’s next opponent.
Where? On the following five slides. Why? Because, as of now, the answer is very much up in the air.
That’s what we call a compromise.