Urijah Faber vs. Mike Brown and WEC 41 Recap

In a fight that was billed as the biggest featherweight fight ever, it certainly lived up to the hype.

For five rounds WEC featherweight champion, Mike Brown, and Urijah Faber, battled back and forth with Brown ultimately capturing the decision. At the end of the fight Brown's left eye was swollen from an overhand right and Faber's hand (the one that had thrown the punch) was most likely broken.

The first round couldn't have gone more different from their last meeting. Urijah did not look like the overconfident fighter as he had before. Instead Faber kept his motor running, constantly shifting positions, strikes and levels. Faber's strategy was almost a running battle, with Brown pushing to catch up to the faster Faber who stopped to damage his opponent then move on, before any power punches could land. At one moment Faber threw an overhand right that rocked Brown. Unfortunately this punch dealt equal damage to Faber, possibly breaking his hand. Faber won the first round but as he walked to his corner he pointed to he hand and gave a cryptic signal that it was no longer functional. Faber had won a decisive round but it would turn out to cost him the war.

With Urijah losing his ability to throw punches Brown began to take the advantage. Mike Brown won the second round behind constant pressure through takedowns, punches, positional transitions and submission attempts. While Faber was still able to mount effective strikes that power was diminishing every second. By the third round Faber had all but abandoned any punches as it now appeared both hands were broken or at least damaged to the point that they were no longer functional. It was apparent that without the distance creating jabs Faber's movement had to be limited if he were to land any blows. In doing so Faber was giving the advantage to Brown. Again Brown powered through Faber's running attack to take his opponent down or clinch with him and land upper cuts.

Inside the clinch Faber resorted to short elbows, which he landed effectively, but it wasn't enough to stop Brown's relentless pursuit. By the end of the fourth round Urijah was down three rounds to one, he had to find an opportunity to finish the fight in the final round.

Urijah found his chance as Brown made what could have been a critical mistake. With two minutes left in the round Brown pushed Faber against the cage and leaned in for a double leg takedown. Unfortunately for Brown he had leaned into Faber's arms and as Faber sprawled Brown was now trapped in a guillotine choke. Brown recognized he was in trouble and tried to go the canvass but he rolled onto his back actually making the choke deeper as Faber was now in north-south position. Faber's hand injury reeled its ugly head again as he was unable to create enough hand tension to finish the choke. Brown was able to escape to finish the round and retain his title.

For Urijah Faber this fight will be remembered as a giant, "what if". What if he hadn't hurt his hand in the first round? What if he could of continued his varied punches and jabs that were so effective in the first round? What if he had attempted takedowns to try and use his wrestling to offset the loss in striking ability? What if he had the hand strength to finish the choke in round five?

Sadly, for Faber, these reverse histories will forever remain in the realm of speculation.

For Mike Brown this victory should cement his position at the top of the featherweight division but detractors will point to Faber's hand injury as the principle reason for Brown's victory; as oppose to his power punches, dirty boxing, transitions and relentless takedowns.

This defeat is a set back for Urijah Faber but as one of the most visible stars within the WEC it is almost assured that we will see him back in title contention and soon.

For Brown he must now prepare for the next challenger and based upon the post-fight interview it appears the WEC has decided that it will be Jose Aldo.

Aldo was also on the WEC card though if you had changed the channel you may have missed him. Immediately after the bell had rung Aldo leapt forward and threw a flying knee. It connected and dropped Cub Swanson who covered up only to receive several more punches before the referee stopped the bout. The whole affair lasted just eight seconds. With that victory Aldo may have secured his title shot.

Former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver recent slide continued as he was submitted by Josh Grispi at the thirty second mark. For Pulver the questions of his fitness and likely retirement will only become more prominent after losing another bout and so quickly. 

Full results below

• WEC featherweight champ Mike Brown def. Urijah Faber via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47).
  
• Jose Aldo def. Cub Swanson via TKO (flying knee) - Round 1, 0:08. 
  
• Donald Cerrone def. James Krause via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 1, 4:38. 
  
• Josh Grispi def. Jens Pulver via submission (guillotine choke) - Round 1, 0:33.
  
• Manny Gamburyan def. John Franchi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). 
  
• Rafael Rebello def. Kyle Dietz via submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1, 2:55. 
  
• Anthony Pettis def. Mike Campbell via submission (triangle choke) - Round 1, 1:49. 
  
• Antonio Banuelos def. Scott Jorgensen via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). 
  
• Frank Gomez def. Noah Thomas via submission (arm triangle choke) - Round 2, 3:12. 
  
• Seth Dikun def. Rolando Perez via submission (triangle choke) - Round 1, 2:30.