In the WEC's first ever pay-per-view offering Urijah Faber revisits his role as challenger to the Featherweight crown opposite the berserker Champion Jose Aldo. For Aldo's part in this movie is that of father time with whom Faber is battling against to regain his long held spot of Champion and face of the WEC. Faber ruled the division, largely unchallenged, until he spun his way into a hook courtesy of ATT product Mike Thomas Brown. Prior to his meeting with Brown's fist Faber ran through the likes of Jeff Curran, Dominick Cruz, and the legend Jens Pulver. Faber had his second go at the now ex-champion Mike Brown and was unsuccessful in a valiant effort in which he broke both of his hands something serious. Now coming off of one of his biggest wins with a masterful performance against Raphael Assuncao in January puts him in the number one contender spot once again.
The task at hand for Faber is no small feat as Jose Aldo has blasted through every one of his opponents in the WEC with relative ease. Aldo has been nothing short of a whirlwind of violence in his time with the promotion dominating opponents with superior speed and accuracy on the feet never having to showcase his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Faber is one of the only fighters at 145lbs that might be able to match Jose's speed and explosiveness, but that still remains to be seen. Aldo was able to overwhelm the former Champion Mike Brown with strikes, something Faber was unable to do twice with the same opponent. If we have learned one thing from MMA it is that MMA math never quite adds up the way you think it should, so even if a common opponent is shared by the two it does not equal victory one way or the other.
Aldo has one loss on his record way back in 2005 that ended via rear naked choke, something Faber is very proficient at both applying and escaping. If the fight goes to the floor and Faber has the opportunity to apply the choke, the chink in Aldo's armor may be revealed. I am guessing that Aldo has finely sharpened his weapons since his lone defeat but Faber's team may look to the loss as a blueprint, however faded it may be, to dethrone the Champion. Urijah looks to have regained some of his Championship swagger in the ring, not that he ever really lost his mojo, and that could be trouble for anyone at 145lbs. Urijah is going backwards through the ranks it seems, going from seasoned vet holding a major belt to hungry challenger with title aspirations. If Aldo doesn't bring his A game it may be back to the top for "The California Kid" with Amp energy drink in hand.
WEC 48 Airs Live From Sacramento April 24th on Pay-Per-View. The card looks like this so far:
MAIN CARD
Champ Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber (for featherweight title)
Champ Benson Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone (for lightweight title)
Mike Brown vs. Manny Gamburyan
Anthony Njokuani vs. Shane Roller
Antonio Banuelos vs. Scott Jorgensen
PRELIMINARY CARD (un-aired)
Alex Karalexis vs. Anthony Pettis
Chan Sung Jung vs. Cub Swanson
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Rani Yahya
Demetrious Johnson vs. Brad Pickett
Tyler Toner vs. Brandon Visher
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