Report: Urijah Faber Turned Down Bout with Thomas Almeida at UFC Fight Night
Urjiah Faber reportedly turned down a fight against Thomas
Almeida. | Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com
Urijah Faber is no longer part next month’s UFC Fight Night bill in Rio de Janeiro, but according to a report from Combate, “The California Kid” turned down at least one potential replacement opponent that would have allowed him to remain on the card.
Sources close to the situation informed the Brazilian media outlet that Faber was offered bantamweight prospect Thomas Almeida in place of original foe Raphael Assuncao, who was slow to recover from a broken ankle suffered in late December. However, citing Almeida’s lack of Octagon experience and relative anonymity, Faber declined the fight, claiming he had little to gain by facing the 23-year-old Sao Paulo native.
Almeida has since been booked to face Yves Jabouin at UFC 186 in Montreal on April 25. “Thominas” is unbeaten in 17 professional outings and has finished all but one of those triumphs by knockout, technical knockout or submission. He went the distance for the first time in his Octagon debut, outpointing Tim Gorman at UFC Fight Night “Shogun vs. St. Preux.”
Meanwhile, a welterweight showdown between Demian Maia and Ryan LaFlare was promoted to the UFC Fight Night headliner in Rio de Janeiro on March 21. The date, venue and opponent for Faber’s next Octagon appearance have not been announced. The Team Alpha Male star last competed at UFC 181, where he submitted Francisco Rivera in the second round.
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