Regardless of what happens when Conor McGregor fights Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight title on July 11, the Dubliner will have a queue of fighters waiting patiently for a chance to be his next opponent, and another high-profile name has recently added their name into the mix for that honour.
Urijah Faber has been talking smack about Ireland recently, presumably in an attempt to get McGregor's attention, but now he has revealed that he turned down a chance to fight team-mate TJ Dillashaw for his UFC bantamweight title, and that he would rather fight McGregor at 145.
I don't turn down fights, it's not my thing, but it would be kind of weird if I fought TJ at 135. So if I could get another shot at 145 or even I feel like a fight with McGregor is a big fight right now. I'd do that in a heartbeat. If he wants to go to Ireland, I'll be the heel in Ireland in front of 90,000 folks. Either way I'm good for anything.
Faber has been highly complimentary of McGregor and his fighting ability, although the same can't be said for his views on Ireland as a country, as he said:
He's got a whole nation of people that have nothing else to cheer for.I think it's fun, this sport needs guys like Conor.
And:
I've seen some hot Irish women but all the dudes over there are pretty mangled looking. Conor, just not having freckles and bright red hair makes him like a super male model over there.
But when he isn't talking out of his arse (which appears to be located on his chin), he has spoken positively of both Conor McGregor's fighting style and personality:
I like it. I like his fighting style, he's got a great fighting style. As far as personality goes, I think he's a good guy. I don't think he's being fake -- which I like. You know there's guys that talk a big talk and are being a character, but they're not being real, and I feel like that's really who he is, and I think that's fine. He believes in himself, he's got quick wit. You know, I'll do some dancing with the guy if it ever gets to that, but I enjoy it. I think he's good.
Faber is due to fight Frankie Edgar in Manilla in May, and with McGregor fighting Aldo in July, it may be a while before this fight could take place, but that hasn't stopped "The California Kid" from registering his interest.
via FoxSports.com
