Urijah Faber isn't quite finished with MMA just yet.

After losing to Dominick Cruz at UFC 199, many said it was time for the Team Alpha Male man to walk away from his fighting career. But Faber had other plans. He got his next fight lined up on September 10 at UFC 203 against Jimmie Rivera. 

Speaking to Submission Radio this weekend, Faber revealed what he went through after his loss to Cruz in June, and why he decided to continue fighting.

"You know, Joe Rogan asked me those questions, and I think people kind of spurred it with me, saying, 'I've had such a great time doing what I'm doing,' which is so true because I love what I do. 

"I love the fight game, and I'm still going to be training just as hard, and I'm No. 2 in the world. It's what I do for fun, it's what I do to make money, and it's an example I'm setting for the other guys. I'm not quite done yet and if I'm not done, I'm going to fight right away."



Rivera isn't the biggest name in the 135-pound division, but he's currently on an 18-fight winning streak. Faber knows he will be a formidable opponent, and even pointed out that some of the top bantamweight contenders turned the fight down.

"I'm fighting a tough top guy and this kid Rivera is very, very tough," Faber said. "I know a couple of guys ranked above him turned the fight down and I'm not about trying to protect anything. I'm about challenging myself and fighting whoever they throw at me. They thought this would be a tough matchup and I accepted. 

"I know one guy in particular [who turned the fight down] who I think was Bryan Caraway. I think he was waiting to fight until later, and I don't know if he trained with Rivera at some point or what the whole story is, but that's one guy who I was told."


Faber revealed later that he was eyeing up a place on a UFC Fight Night Sacramento card that will reportedly take place in December. He also said he wasn't ruling himself out the title picture yet, and would be ready for an opportunity should it come his way.

"I've always said that I would always accept a title shot and I'd never count myself out of one," Faber said. "I can't remember who asked me that--I think it was Bas Rutten who did on Inside MMA. 

"There's a reason why I've been a champion or a top contender for the past thirteen years and that's because I don't stop training, I believe in myself, I live a healthy lifestyle and I'm always poised for an opportunity. Who knows what will happen and let's see. Maybe I will call it quits after this fight, or maybe I'll go on for another four years.

"Most likely it's not going to be too much longer that I'm fighting but I'm looking forward to some big fights and that new arena [in Sacramento] sounds amazing to me."