UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber is set to come out of retirement and fight in his hometown of Sacramento on July 13.
Sounds like a sweet deal for “The California Kid.” But instead of taking on a cream puff in his first fight since 2016, Faber is being pitted against a promising prospect in Ricky Simon, who is 3-0 in the UFC and enters with a 15-1 overall record.
Faber has kept in shape the past few years, even competing in grappling events. But, he’s still 40 years old. Is this bout with Simon, who is on an eight-fight win streak, the right matchup for Faber in his return?
This was one topic discussed in this week’s Ariel & The Bad Guy episode, streamed exclusively on ESPN+.
Chael Sonnen: Big winner in this situation, Helwani — me! I love watching Urijah fight. I never thought he should have retired in the first place. I didn’t think he’d want to, he was just starting a family, he’s in fantastic shape. I will remind you just because a lot of people don’t know this … you see, whenever a guy comes back, he’s always busy, he’s always feeling better than ever, the rest was always great for him. He goes and gets in there, and he lays an egg. We’ve seen this time over time, but with Urijah Faber, it is a little bit different, right, because he’s been competing. Not only training, he’s been very active in grappling competitions. He just came back from England where he was in Polaris, took on a world champion — I mean really high-level grappling, no strikes, but I’m just saying he’s in shape. He’s fit. This is the one comeback where a guy says, ‘Hey, I’m ready to go,’ and we know that he actually is.
Now the other side of why I’m the winner here — he’s taking on my teammate in Ricky Simon. Major opportunity. Ricky’s a young man, new in the UFC. He’s had three fights, won them all. He just beat Rani Yahya, which is a very good name, Helwani, not for nothing, and in addition, he deserves somebody big. So, when Urijah comes back, I think that it’s very special. Let me share one thing with you because I know you’re going to ask how’s your teammate feeling about this fight. I will tell you in full honesty, he’s a little bit star struck. He was a little bit enamored with Urijah Faber and the fact that he signed a contract opposite that name. He didn’t see this coming, but I think it’s in a positive and exciting way.
Ariel Helwani: OK, so that’s a nice story and I’m certainly happy for Ricky Simon. But I have to say, Chael, right now from a promotional standpoint — and you know I understand the business better than most — that I have to say that I’m a little confused here, Chael. Look, I love that Faber is coming back. I think he had a few fights left in him. As you said, he’s looking good, he’s a dad now, he just competed against the great Nicky Ryan, he seems to have the competitive spirit still left in him, the fire is still burning — I like it. Oh, he’s coming back in Sacramento? He’s the king of Sacramento. I’ve been to many WEC events back in the day with him headlining those cards against Jens Pulver and Mike Brown. I mean, there’s nothing like a Urijah Faber fight in Sacramento. This is perfect. This makes all the sense in the world. But you’re going to book him against a rising star, a stud, and let’s be honest, not a household name just yet, a true prospect? You’re going to book him to essentially build Ricky Simon off of Urijah Faber? That’s a mistake. That’s what confuses me here.
Urijah Faber should be fighting with the Cub Swansons of the world. And that’s no knock on Swanson, but a veteran who has maybe seen his better days in the rearview mirror. Have him get a win in Sacramento. I don’t want to put Urijah Faber in his hometown against a killer like Ricky Simon, undefeated in the UFC, who’s on a roll as of late, who’s beating everyone they put in front of him. I don’t want to build Ricky Simon off of him, I want to build Ricky Simon off of someone else, but now is not the time to do that.
Now is the time to get Urijah Faber back in the win column. … You just got Faber back. You just got gravy. You just got something that you weren’t expecting. And he was expected to come back, by the way, in a year and they gave him this opportunity in Sacramento. That makes no sense to me, Chael. Can you explain this to me? Why would you put Faber in this position? Don’t you want him to go over in his return fight in his hometown?
Sonnen: Ariel, you want to know who I think would agree with you right offhand, is Urijah Faber. He was probably thinking more, ‘Hey, let’s get a marquee guy, let’s get a guy with some little wear and tear under him, maybe a little similar in age.’ I fully concede that point to you, but history doesn’t, Ariel.
History will argue with you and tell you that when these guys come back, and they always think the same thing — ‘Hey, my comeback fight is going to be huge,’ and they’re right. ‘Hey, I’m going to fight in my hometown and that’s a big opportunity,’ and they’re right. What they always miss is the promoter is looking at you and still looking at shelf life and going, look, if you really are back and you really are one of the top guys, I’ve got to test you right away and let’s start that run for you. But if you’re not, I’ve got to build off of your back. You’re telling me you’re ready, you’re telling me you’re better than ever, I know you used to fight for world championships, I know you used to hold world championships. So to use your word, Ariel, I’m going to bring in a prospect. I’m going to bring in a top guy and one of you is going to shine up the other one. One of you leaves with the torch or one of you passes the torch.
Helwani: What’s wrong with a tune-up fight, though? What’s wrong with getting his feet wet? What’s wrong with getting his mojo back? I get that line of thinking, and I respect it, but does it have to be in the first fight back? Why can’t you just, you know, warm him up a little bit? … I thought when he walked away, that he did it perfectly. He was the kind of guy that had businesses, he had the gym, he had the team, he wasn’t going to come back. And so him coming back was a surprise. If you would have asked me at the beginning of the year if he was going to come back, I would have said no. So this is a nice story.
I’ll tell you this, the original plan was him versus Kron Gracie and that was going to be the main event. That fight fell through. Then, there was some talk of Cub Swanson, the UFC wasn’t interested, and so they threw out Ricky Simon. I get what the UFC is doing, I understand. But if I’m Urijah Faber, who has the utmost confidence in himself, I’m thinking to myself are you trying to build Ricky Simon off of me in my hometown in my comeback fight? Great opportunity for Simon, but if I’m Faber I don’t love it.
Sonnen: The answer to your question is yes. And while history does side with what I said, I’m not against you saying well, let’s change history. Let’s make this a grudge match. What’s Dominick Cruz doing? Let’s wait for TJ Dillashaw — don’t tell me about TJ and his suspension. What I’m saying is I do get your point, but historically I’ve seen this happen a million times.
Helwani: It sounds like you’re actually starting to come around on the idea that I get the business perhaps better than most. Is that what’s happening here?
Sonnen: I think you bring up a very good point in this case, Helwani.
Helwani: Ahhh, so close.