UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber has been busy promoting his A1 Combat promotion these days, with A1 Combat 6 taking place over the weekend.
He’s also still deeply involved with Team Alpha MMA. Song Yadong and Yan Xiaonan fought recently, representing the gym. Josh Emmett represents the team as well, and was a keen observer of the lightweight title fight at UFC 280 this past weekend.
Emmett, of course, is a featherweight. One who is on a five-fight win streak, knocking on the door of a title shot. But Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC’s 145lb champ, served as a back-up for Islam Makhachev’s lightweight title fight with Charles Oliveira. With Makhachev coming away with gold, Volkanovski has been promised the next shot at 155lbs, and a chance at double-champ status.
It leaves Emmett in something of a holding pattern, but Faber told Cageside Press over the weekend that the pair had been over all the scenarios. One in particular stands out.
“Poor Josh, I was blowing him up during the fight [at UFC 280]. I text him, and then I called him right during the fight, and he was obviously watching the fight intently. And then we talked today, and we’re just going through the scenarios,” said Faber. “Josh is the guy who needs to have his shot. Probably for an interim with Yair [Rodriguez], and then we’ll unify them down the road.”
As for Faber, he’s staying busy, both with A1 Combat and an upcoming jiu-jitsu match.
“I’m doing all my passions, which is awesome. I get plenty of time with my kids; my gym is a mile and a half from my house. I’m coaching guys, and I’m helping to manage, and we’re promoting fights.”
Faber uses his daughter as inspiration, and is “just having fun,” he told us. “I’m building a van life right now, which is out of a box truck, and trying to get some retreat gyms set up for our BJJ, Team Alpha BJJ, and just really enjoying myself. I’m also doing that Combat Jiu-jitsu match in Cancun, so I’m going to start prepping up to get in amazing shape and slap some people around and submit them hopefully. And we’re gonna have our team represent there and show that Team Alpha BJJ jiu-jitsu is the top in the world for combat jiu-jitsu. I really believe that we are.”
Watch our full interview with UFC legend Urijah Faber above.
