Faber vs. Jorgensen: The California Kid Will Continue Non-Title Fight Dominance

Urijah Faber’s non-title fight dominance will continue after he beats friend Scott Jorgensen at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.

The two competitors are familiar with each other and are even friends. They know each other well and party together, but both men are both vying for the same goal on Saturday night.

Once they step into the Octagon during the main event of the TUF 17 Finale, their camaraderie will go out the window. No friendship is strong enough to put doubt in a man’s mind when he is confronted with a threat to his ambition. That’s especially true for a seasoned fighter like Faber, who is quickly rising back to the top and has a championship on his mind.

It's all business once the opening bell is rung.

On the surface, the odds appear to be stacked against Jorgensen. Having an inside track into Faber’s mindset and technique may give him a better shot than he would have had otherwise, but that theory works both ways.

If anything, their familiarity with each other will mostly benefit Faber as he continues his quest for UFC gold.

Jorgensen is a one-dimensional fighter who brings little to the table in the form of striking. His biggest strength is his wrestling ability on the mat. When he uses his wrestling, he is among the best in the bantamweight division.

What he does do well, though, Faber will be ready for.

"The California Kid" needs to use his knowledge of Jorgensen’s technique to position himself away from takedown attempts. He can also set up his own submissions based on his familiarity of Jorgensen’s approaches and points of attack.

Faber also boasts a three-inch reach advantage, excellent ring speed and presence, quick hands and some excellent submissions, which should keep Jorgensen mindful when he’s attempting to bring Faber down.

Jorgensen needs to control the tempo by keeping Faber contained and locked up, but that is easier said than done.

It will be an interesting bout considering the different approaches of these top bantamweights. But it’s likely going to end the way we all expect it to—Faber victorious in yet another non-title fight.

The next question is probably the biggest of all: Can Faber ride the momentum of three consecutive wins to shake his title-fight woes and become a UFC champion?