'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAhxX/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAB//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAeEAACAQQDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgUAAxEhBBJyBv/aAAgBAQABPwCCuRlv5aXeR1z2APB6WUYIV2zHK+RQ642q58iv/8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECESH/2gAIAQIBAT8Aiq0//8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERAv/aAAgBAwEBPwDTsR//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2. Former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw
Urijah Faber vs. T.J. Dillashaw for the UFC bantamweight championship remains a missed opportunity for the promotion.
Trending
The animosity between Dillashaw and his former teammates at Team Alpha Male reached boiling point when he left to join Duane Ludwig permanently.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
When Dillashaw was champion, ‘The California Kid’ was still among the top fighters in the division. He decided not to challenge his own fighter. And so, he accepted bouts against Alex Caceres, Francisco Rivera, Frankie Edgar, and Frankie Saenz.
It could be argued that Faber could have been viewed as the favorite if he challenged Dillashaw for the title.
Dillashaw was 10-2 when he won it and ‘The California Kid’ would have known his strengths and weaknesses at that point.
While coaching TUF season 22 opposite Conor McGregor, there was a memorable exchange. ‘The Notorious’ questioned the bantamweight champion’s loyalty to Faber and Team Alpha Male.
#1. Former UFC two-division champion B.J. Penn
A bout between Urijah Faber and former two-division champion B.J. Penn could have been very lucrative for the UFC.
Both were staples in their respective weight divisions and popular fighters.
There was a great opportunity for the promotion to book a superfight in 2008 when they were both champions.
‘The California Kid’ won the WEC featherweight championship in 2007, shortly after Zuffa purchased the promotion.
Meanwhile, ‘The Prodigy’ won the lightweight championship in 2008 after defeating Joe Stevenson for the vacant title.
Faber vs. Penn could have been contested at a 150lb catchweight.
This would have ensured both remain champions of their respective divisions following the outcome. It would have also been a great way to introduce one of the WEC’s top fighters to a larger audience. Ultimately, Faber was competing at bantamweight following the merger and wouldn’t return to 145lbs until he fought Frankie Edgar in 2015.
