The July 5th UFC 175 card scheduled for Las Vegas, Nevada has added a Bantamweight bout between perennial title hopeful Urijah Faber and young up and comer Alex Caceres. Faber is coming off a loss in yet another title shot, but prior to that had a run of 4 finishes in 4 fights that could count as the most impressive he has ever looked. Caceres has been with the UFC for a bit, as this is his 10th fight with the company, and his last win over highly regarded newcomer Sergio Pettis. Look for Faber to emerge a massive favorite when the line hits the sport books.
The fact is that the best thing that could happen for competition in the bantamweight division is for Faber to lose. He has already received three title shots in the weight class, and he has failed in all three attempts. But he is better than almost everyone in the weight class, and he is likely going to be too strong and physical for Caceres in this match, keeping him hovering in the title picture.
The UFC is waiting for a major change in the landscape, and that is that 145 lb titleholder Jose Aldo will move up in weight, triggering the bantamweight title holder Barao to also move up. This would leave Faber, who is considered a draw by the UFC, in line for a title shot yet again.
IT is a shame for Caceres, who had a terrific fight with Pettis and earned a hard fought win. He has not lost in 5 fights, but is still growing and he is still a relative unknown. Beating him does Faber no real good. A win for Caceres would be massive for his career, but what is more likely to happen here is that he is will find he has been served up to a fighter the UFC wanted to win.
Does anyone really want to see Urijah Faber in a title fight again? Some do, but count me among those that think Faber’s best UFC days are behind him, and that he is grabbing paychecks at this point. Even if the UFC manages the situation into him getting a another title shot and he actually wins it, the fact is that Faber is a top bantamweight, but he has not been an elite fighter at that weight class.
