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Urijah Faber’s Move Back to Featherweight Division Motivated by ‘Big Fights’

Frankie Edgar Put Title Shot to the Side to Fight Urijah Faber

There comes a time in their careers that legends in the fight game want those fights that will further solidify their legacy in the history of the sport. Some are willing to change weight classes for the opportunity to add another marquee win to their already impressive resume.

Former featherweight champion Urijah Faber returns to the division that he once held the world title at UFC Fight Night 66 to take on former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, and it’s a fight that easily motivates him.

“This is an exciting match-up for me. I’ve been inspired by Frankie’s performances a bunch of different times where I’ve seen him fight and it made me want to fight. That’s the kind of guy that gets my blood flowing. It’s a guy that gives me a little extra motivation when I get up and hit training,” Faber recently said during a recent press conference. “I’m in this sport to do the big fights. That’s what I’ve always shot for.”

“The California Kid” has been competing in the bantamweight division since 2010 and looks forward to returning to the 145-pound weight class where he doesn’t have to cut as much weight.

> SEE ALSO: Frankie Edgar on Urijah Faber Bout: ‘More People Talking About This Fight Than Any I’ve Had’

“This is where I was the champion at, 145 pounds. It’s not something that it’s a strange place for me. I feel great,” he said. “I’m excited to go in there and not feel like I’m going to die on the scale the day before.”

But this fight is about a lot more than easing up on dietary restrictions. Faber expects the bout to receive a lot of attention and hopes a win will move him on to even bigger fights.

“For me, this is an opportunity to do what I love and have a lot of eyes on me and fight someone that I respect and get a huge win in my legacy and move toward the things that I want,” said the Team Alpha Male founder.

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