WEC teammates train hard but have fun
In the ultimate individual sport, Urijah Faber is the consummate team player.
The World Extreme Cagefighting star has built one of the most talented stables of lighter-weight fighters based out of his Ultimate Fitness gym in Sacramento, Calif.
"It makes sense for me on a bunch of different levels," Faber said of assembling a team of quality fighters. "My whole life has been with a team. I’ve been a football player, a wrestler, been a part of something for a long time, and I think it’s just something that naturally happened."
Faber will fight Takeya Mizugaki in the headline bout of WEC 52 at the Palms tonight, and two of his teammates also will be in action in featured bouts.
Faber said he "absolutely" will be watching as Chad Mendes meets Javier Vazquez and Joseph Benavidez takes on Wagnney Fabiano. Mendes and Benavidez are two of the top members of Faber’s Team Alpha Male.
Benavidez said preparing to compete on the same card as his friends not only has been enjoyable but has provided an advantage.
"It’s great because guys are peaking at the same time and it makes the practices that much more intense. I have Urijah with tunnel vision and Chad with focus both coming at me every day," he said. "There’s just a good energy at practice, and we’re all pushing each other. It’s an individual sport, but it’s great to go in with a team."
While having a constant string of training partners available is an important aspect of the team concept at Faber’s gym, there is no shortage of fun.
The fighters not only train together but are friends outside the cage. They host parties and cookouts on the Sacramento block where Faber owns several homes that house members of the team. Benavidez said the camaraderie is what distinguishes their gym from others.
"It’s fun going there. It feels like you’re going to some kind of social gathering every day and then training hard," he said. "After we punch each other in the face, we joke around."
Faber was the longtime champion at 145 pounds, where unbeaten Mendes is one of the top contenders. Tonight, Faber makes his debut at 135 pounds in the bantamweight division, where Benavidez recently challenged Dominick Cruz unsuccessfully for the belt.
Faber didn’t rule out fighting one of his teammates but insisted it would take a lot more money than anyone would be willing to pay.
Benavidez said he welcomes his friend to the division.
"I just got a chance, and now I’ve got to do a lot more work before I get back there, so it’s his turn to do it," Benavidez said. "That timing helps. I just want the best for him, and I’m going to continue to do my thing regardless."
Any future belt won by one of the Team Alpha Male members will be an Ultimate Fighting Championship title. Tonight’s card is the second-to-last event under the WEC banner before the organization merges with the UFC.
"This is the first time all three of us have been on the same (card), so it’s definitely something special," Mendes said.
The card airs live on Versus (Cable 38) at 6 p.m.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.
