Popular UFC bantamweight Urijah Faber may make his home in California but it looks like he’ll be surrounded with familiar faces for the next thirteen weeks in Las Vegas while serving as one of the coaches on the Ultimate Fighter 15. “The California Kid” recently spoke about who he plans to bring along with him as assistant instructors and, as might be expected, each is a well-known staple at Faber’s gym (Team Alpha Male).
“Master Thong, Fabio Prado, Dustin Akbari, Justin Buchholz, Lance Palmer,” revealed Faber in an interview with the UFC’s website when asked about whose expertise he would rely on this season. “And then my guys, Chad Mendes and Joseph (Benavidez) and Danny Castillo and T.J. Dillashaw, they’ll be coming out to help out as well, and I’ll probably have some guests coming in, different specialists that will come in and add their two cents and give these guys some cool techniques and stuff like that.”
In terms of the talent Faber is hoping to help mold, the 32-year old already has his eye on a few of the lightweights/welterweights expected to compete on TUF 15 but won’t make up his mind for sure until seeing how the fare tomorrow night on FX.
“I have taken a look at the guys so far and I feel like there are some favorites in there, but you’re not really ever gonna know until they’re right there in front of you and they’re fighting each other. So I’m gonna keep an open mind, but I’ve definitely taken a look at them to see who I think are the better guys.”
The first episode of TUF 15 starts at 9:00 PM EST on Friday with a two-and-a-half hour broadcast featuring sixteen live fights. Faber will coach opposite rival Dominick Cruz on the season with things culminating in a bout for Cruz’s championship this summer.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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MMATraining Take: No real shocks here. Faber is comfortable with his squad so there’s no reason for him to bring in anyone special. He trusts them with his career so why wouldn’t he have the same faith in their ability to help polish up the eight fighters on his TUF team?
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