Mike Brown proved once again that he's the best featherweight in MMA Sunday night, earning his second victory over Urijah Faber and defending his World Extreme Cagefighting title in a wild battle at WEC 41.Faber, however, showed off a warrior's spirit, continuing to fight despite injuring both of his hands, including what looked like a badly broken right hand. It was a tremendous battle between the two best 145-pound fighters in the world.
"Urijah's tough," Brown said after the fight. "I just really couldn't get my gloves on his head. He's a world-class fighter, but it was my night again. We're the two best guys in the world. ... It looked like he damaged his hand. Maybe it would have been even more of a war."
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Mike Brown and Urijah Faber exchange glares during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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Urijah Faber, right, kicks Mike Brown during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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Urijah Faber punches Mike Brown during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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Urijah Faber kicks Mike Brown during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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Urijah Faber punches Mike Brown during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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Mike Brown kicks Urijah Faber during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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Mike Brown aims to submit Urijah Faber during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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Mike Brown punches Urijah Faber during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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Urijah Faber kicks Mike Brown during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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Mike Brown and Urijah Faber battle on the ground during their WEC 41 featherweight title match in Sacramento, Calif. on June 7, 2009.
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The first round was intense and action-packed, with both fighters looking like they wanted to control the pace early. The second round was more of the same, with Faber scoring with punches and kicks, but Brown controlling the fight when it went to the ground.
In the fifth Faber knew he needed to finish the fight and attempted a couple of chokes, but he couldn't secure them with his injured hand. Brown ended up winning the fight on all three judges' cards.
Brown, who improved his record to 22-4, said that he expects to fight Jose Aldo next. On the undercard Sunday night, Aldo needed just eight seconds to beat Cub Swanson.
Faber, who falls to 22-3, said he did his best despite losing the use of his hands.
"I apologize," Faber said to his hometown fans afterward. "My weapons were gone. ... I'd love to get another shot at this title."
And with those words, it may be time to start thinking about Brown vs. Faber III.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
6-08-2009 @ 12:01AM
crazyllama44 said...
Mike Brown came into this fight with something to prove: that his fight with Urijah last November was not a fluke. I don't believe he as quite convinced me or the general public of that after Sunday's fight. Urijah clearly controlled Brown in the first round with his counters and all around quickness. It wasn't until Urijah began to lose strength in his right hand that Brown began to take over the fight.
Without the loss of Uriah's hands: Uriah submits Brown in the third round.
I have the upmost respect for both Brown and Faber. Was the November 5th fight a fluke? I believe that only a third match up will truly tell...
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6-08-2009 @ 7:04AM
ishlatiya said...
Obviously, now you can say it wass not a fluke; Mike Brown won again. He caught me with a lucky punch.... Ow my hand hurts.... What's the next excuse?
6-08-2009 @ 8:02AM
brudeful said...
I agree!
6-08-2009 @ 10:01AM
Matt said...
YOU ARE CORRECT!!! Urijah Faber fought 4 rounds with a borken right hand and stlll almost pulled out a win. They are both great fighters but Urijah was having his way with him most of the fight and Brown couldn't do anything for 4 rounds depsite his opponent having a broken hand. Brown and his corner were celebrating like they just beat the sh*t out of someone for 5 rounds, fact is he barely won fighting a guy that could not jab or throw a punch. I wouldn't celebrate if I was running the 200 meter against 1 person then that person within 10 yards pulls a hamstring...I continue then and finish by myself and start to celebrate...what an IDIOT! Brown was not impressive this fight.
6-08-2009 @ 4:44PM
Danny said...
Uriajh Faber wins this fight hands down if he doesn't break his fist. Essentially he fought Mike Brown with one hand tied behind his back like the saying goes and he did without using his right fist for 4 rounds. Any one of the choke holds he had on Brown would have been enough for submission with Faber being able to use his right hand with power. I've hand broken knuckles and bones in my hand and I don't think he'll ever be the same. One things for sure Brown has power. I'd much rather watch these lighter fighters than the heavy weights. It's non-stop action.
6-08-2009 @ 12:09AM
billyp01 said...
amazing fight..i cant believe how faber stil fought after seeing his hand unwrapped after the fight..that dude is a fricken warrior!
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6-08-2009 @ 12:10AM
Kenny Powers Fastball (PSN johnnynumber5) said...
This was one of the better fights I have seen in a long time and I have a lot of respect for both Faber and Brown. On my card I had the fight even going into the 5th round giving Faber 1 & 3 and Brown 2 & 4 but it was so hard to call. I don't see how two judges gave it to Brown by that many points but the other judge that had it by 1 point was in line with the fight I watched.
Brown got some good takedowns but he never did anything with it. I am just amazed that Faber adapted and fought 4 rounds with what's sure to be a severely broken hand. That thing looked like it had a tumor after he took his glove off and you could see him only throwing elbows after that.
I still kind of struggle to say that Brown is a better fighter than Faber. I think at best they are even fighters and that means a lot from me because I can't really stand Faber as a person. But, I have so much respect for both these dudes as fighters.
I think Jose Aldo gets the next fight against Mike Brown and we might see Faber fight someone like Swanson or Garcia before getting a shot at the winner of Aldo vs Brown. To be honest at this point I think Aldo is better than both Faber and Brown and I would favor him against either opponent.
Regardless of what happens from here on out we need to see a Faber vs Brown 3 and hopefully it doesn't have some fluke KO or a fluke injury. Give Faber credit for not making excuses and trying to get it done.
So far there is no doubt that Faber vs Brown 2 is the fight of 2009.
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6-08-2009 @ 12:18AM
skeen267 said...
Urijah certainly deserves another chance. I really think he would have ended up winning this if he hadn't broken his hand. He had Brown practically choked-out at the end, but it looked like he simply couldn't lock his hands to finish it.
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6-08-2009 @ 12:21AM
oreojamal2 said...
dude if my hands were broken i would have been a human punching bag. I love Faber and i think i have negative feelings toward Brown just because of that, but dude Faber would have submitted Brown like 4 times with good hands, and the sheer fact that Brown couldn't knock out a man in Faber's predicament isn't worthy of the belt, so I'm gonna be there for Faber/Brown III, and whoever wins that bout will be the champ, because this wasn't a fair fight basically.
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6-08-2009 @ 3:39AM
claytor said...
Woulda coulda shoulda...
Point is...he didnt beat Mike Brown.
It lame to see open handed commentary like this, personally i though Brown had a far more consistent pace than Faber did, stopping and jumping about doing Sugar Ray Leonard poses. Faber broke his hand in the third, but i guess its sporting to claim it happened in the first, despite his somewhat productivity. This kid tires me, and id much rather see him get killed at catch weight against Torres than crumble trying to beat Browns concrete skull in.
Another thing...why does this kid only seem to fight in front of his hometown?
Big ups to Mike Brown for getting the job done(twice), and condolences to Faber and/or his fans for needing the "what ifs" to diminish it.
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6-08-2009 @ 12:32PM
dsmith1193 said...
If he broke his hand in the third than how come after the first round while walking to his corner he pointed to his hand and said it was broken?
6-08-2009 @ 1:01PM
HAYLEY BUG said...
Claytor:
Faber broke his hand in the first round, not the third. Watch th fight again, he motions to his corner that it is broke
6-09-2009 @ 10:39PM
aerokay101 said...
First of all maybe you should get your story straight. The first fight of Brown vs. Faber was in Florida. Secondly, I'd like to see you get into a street brawl with BOTH of your hands fucked up. And then tell me it's a fair fight.
6-11-2009 @ 6:32PM
vbguy916 said...
When Fabor lost the first time it was in Hollywood, Florida, Browns hometown. As far as fighting in Sacramento,Ca it is proven that all other WEC events only get around 5-6 thousand people at there events. For the third time now Sacramento's Arco Arena has sold out over 12,000seats. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that the WEC wants to make money and selling seats at the smaller venues is not cutting it. Arco fans appriciate good fighting and will pay to see good fights.
6-08-2009 @ 6:20AM
Hello Joe said...
WHAT A GREAT FIGHT! THE STINKING BOXERS SHOULD TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT WHAT GIVING A GOOD SHOW IS ALL ABOUT. BOXING IS A MESS, I AM WATCHING THE MMA FROM NOW ON.
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6-08-2009 @ 7:07AM
sir afflitto said...
maybe no more faber commercials please i had enough of looking at his grill good job brown no doubt in my mind u da man
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6-08-2009 @ 7:08AM
featurewriter said...
Are they on the reality show they have on www.myfightteam.com? Saw the trailer and it rocks. Would love to see them fight again there.
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6-08-2009 @ 7:13AM
Harris said...
I don't consider broken/injured hands to be excuses. Faber fought Brown for the vast majority of the match with at least a broken right hand. And from what I saw his left hand appeared to be somewhat injured as well, considering the amount of open handed slap attacks he was throwing with it instead of closed fisted punches. There are at least two reasons there needs to be a Faber/Brown III. One, Brown couldn't finish off an obviously injured Faber and two, Faber *almost* choked out Brown with a broken hand.
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6-08-2009 @ 7:43AM
kev22 said...
brown , did not impress me at all..!!!
faber wins with to good hands.. !!
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6-08-2009 @ 8:18AM
CANAVARO said...
WHAT A GREAT FIGHT! THE STINKING BOXERS SHOULD TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT WHAT GIVING A GOOD SHOW IS ALL ABOUT. BOXING IS A MESS, I AM WATCHING THE MMA FROM NOW ON.
---------------------ARE YOU ON FU..CK.ING DRUGS?? ANY PRO BOXER COULD KNOCKOUT THOSE TWO CLOWNS WITH A SINGLE PUNCH TO THE KIDNEY :) THEREFORE F YOU
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