Urijah Faber Signs New 8-Fight Deal With The UFC

Former WEC champion Urijah Faber has signed a new eight-fight deal with the UFC.

After WEC merged with the UFC in 2010, Faber (29-6) made his promotional debut against Eddie Wineland at UFC 128 on March 19, 2011. The 34-year-old won the bout by unanimous decision. With his victory over Iuri Alcantara at UFC Fight: Shogun vs. Sonnen last month, Faber improved to 5-2 in the UFC.

According to Faber’s management team, MMA Incorporated, the Isla Vista, California,= native also signed a new four-year deal with them. MMA Inc’s clients also include Joseph Benavidez, Chad Mendes, and UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.

The California Kid will face Michael McDonald in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 9 on December 14.

Faber, who hasn’t fought outside the bantamweight division since 2010, said he would consider a fight against Frankie Edgar, who just dropped down to lightweight.

“I don’t necessarily have much say in my fights,” he said at a UFC Fight Club Q&A session last month. “Throughout the history of my career, I’ve always just kind of taken who they’ve given me, and I don’t know if I’d go up for that weight or they would come down or do a catchweight or something like that, but I’m definitely open to it. I do want big fights in this career.”

Faber also said a match against McDonald seemed inevitable. The 22-year-old is ranked right under Faber at #3 in Sherdog‘s bantamweight rankings.

“I actually watched McDonald’s first fight when he was 16 years old, and I’ve always kind of had my eye on him,” he said. “It’s been impressive to watch him, and I’m willing to go up there and beat him up.”

Michael McDonald enters the bout with a 16-2 record, including his submission victory over Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen. His only two loses were against Renan Barao at UFC on Fuel TV in February and Cole Escovedo at PFC 13: Validation in May 2009.

Josh Thomson and Anthony Pettis will face off in a lightweight championship match in the UFC on Fox 9 main event.

[Photo credit: Fight Launch / Flickr]