Urijah Faber has signed a six-fight contract extension with the WEC and is expected to return to the cage this January, the fighter’s manager Mike Roberts told Sherdog.com Monday.

MMAJunkie.com was the first to report on Faber’s new deal with the promotion, which will lock up the popular former featherweight champion with the promotion for seven more fights.

Roberts said the deal was signed last week, following a heavy negotiation period that began last January.

Faber, 30, broke his hand in the first round of his rematch with featherweight champion Mike Thomas Brown at WEC 41 in June. Faber was able to complete the five-round bout, but dropped a unanimous decision to Brown, who defends his title against Brazilian upstart Jose Aldo at WEC 44 on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas.

“The California Kid” underwent surgery and had pins placed in his right hand. Roberts said Faber, who tends to shun prescription medication, turned to unconventional rehabilitation methods, including a hyperbaric chamber, in his recovery process. Though not expected back until March, Faber made a speedy recovery.

The time away from the cage also allowed Faber and his management to restructure a new deal with the UFC’s sister promotion.

“Urijah’s extremely happy with the deal. He feels well taken care of,” said Roberts. “(WEC owner) Lorenzo (Fertitta), Dana (White), and (WEC general manager) Reed (Harris) are super easy to work with. It was just a real complicated deal that took a while to work through.”

Roberts did not give details on the deal, though it is expected that Faber was allotted some kind of added compensation should the promotion launch pay-per-view events this year. Sherdog.com has learned the promotion aims to hold at least two pay-per-view events in 2010. Multiple fighters have tiered profit-sharing incentives for UFC pay-per-view events.

Roberts said Faber’s loyalty to the promotion played a big part in the fighter’s decision as well.

“We could have waited (the contract) out to speak with other promotions, but Urijah said, ‘I started this. I want to grow with this and finish this. I want the belt back.’”

Roberts does not expect Faber to face the winner of the Brown-Aldo championship bout scheduled for WEC 44 on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas.