Urijah Faber

Background and Early Life

Urijah Christopher Faber was born on May 14, 1979, in Isla Vista, California. He comes from a diverse ethnic background: his mother, Suzanne Faber, is of Italian, English, and Irish descent, while his father, Theo Faber, has Dutch heritage. He has two siblings: a brother, Ryan Faber, and a sister, Michaella Tastad.

Faber attended the University of California, Davis, where he earned a degree in Human Development. While at UC Davis, he was an NCAA Division I wrestler, a background that laid the foundation for his future in mixed martial arts. He has often credited his parents for supporting his aspirations and being positive influences throughout his journey.

Mixed Martial Arts Career

Faber began his professional MMA career on November 12, 2003, with a submission victory over Jay Valencia via guillotine choke. He followed this with a victory against George Adkins on February 12, 2004, using strikes to secure a win. On March 17, 2006, Faber captured the WEC Featherweight Championship by defeating Cole Escovedo via second-round doctor stoppage. He later claimed a victory over Charlie Valencia to defend the King of the Cage Bantamweight Championship with a first-round rear-naked choke.

Known for his high pace, durability, and wrestling-based style, Faber became a fan favorite. His tenure in the WEC included multiple title defenses and notable battles against fighters such as Jens Pulver and Mike Brown. When the WEC merged with the UFC in 2010, Faber transitioned to the bantamweight division, where he continued to fight elite competition, including Dominick Cruz and Renan Barão.

Team Alpha Male and Retirement

In 2004, Faber founded Team Alpha Male (TAM), an MMA training center based in Sacramento, California. It quickly became one of the sport’s premier gyms, producing top-level fighters in the featherweight and bantamweight divisions. Faber played an integral role not only as a competitor but also as a coach and mentor to younger fighters.

He announced his retirement from professional fighting on December 17, 2016, after securing a decision win against Brad Pickett in his hometown. His contributions to the sport were formally acknowledged when he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017.

Despite his retirement, Faber returned to the Octagon in July 2019 and defeated rising contender Ricky Simon via first-round TKO, proving his skill and competitiveness even after a lengthy break. He fought once more at UFC 245 on December 14, 2019, losing to Petr Yan by third-round knockout in what proved to be his final professional bout.

Personal Life and Relationships

Urijah Faber is not married but maintains a fairly private approach to his personal life. He is engaged to Jaslyn Ome, and the couple have two children: a daughter, Cali Rayne Faber, born on March 14, 2019, and a son, Rome Christopher Faber, born on October 8, 2020.

Faber continues to be active in both the fighting community and public appearances.