Beating Fernandes grappling at ADXC 5 ‘a trophy for me’

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ABU DHABI – UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber will be taking on a familiar foe at ADXC 5.

Former WEC champion Faber headlines Friday’s grappling event when he takes on Bibiano Fernandes in a no-gi match. The pair previously competed in MMA before, with Faber defeating Fernandes by doctor’s stoppage TKO at King of the Cage in 2006.

Fernandes is a former multiple-time defending ONE Championship bantamweight title holder and also holds decorated jiu-jitsu accolades. He is a five-time world jiu-jitsu champion and three-time Pan American champion.

“I followed Bibiano’s career. I always respected the fact that he jumped into my world straight out of his world championship in jiu-jitsu,” Faber told MMA Junkie. “(He) was just fearless and believing he could do it. I love that about him, and then I followed his career afterwards where he was making his name and going on and becoming a world champion years later.

“So, I love his story. I love his spirit. I love that he’s a world champion because, for me, when I fight a world champion, if I win that world championship, that’s a trophy for me. If I can beat the guy that just won the world championship, what’s that make me? So, that’s the way I look at it.”

Faber has competed in multiple grappling matches since hanging up his UFC gloves in 2019. He most recently submitted Jeff Glover in a combat jiu-jitsu match at his promotion A1 Combat in May and plans to continue challenging himself on the mats.

“I’m going to continue to test myself, take on young up-and-comers, guys with history,” Faber said. “Maybe a match with like a Dominick Cruz or somebody like that, but we had our beef. That’s old news, man (laughs).”

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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