ADXC 5 headliner Urijah Faber: Beating Bibiano Fernandes in grappling 'a trophy for me'

ABU DHABI – UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber will be taking on a familiar foe at ADXC 5.

Former WEC champion Faber headlines Friday’s grappling event when he takes on Bibiano Fernandes in a no-gi match. The pair previously competed in MMA before, with Faber defeating Fernandes by doctor’s stoppage TKO at King of the Cage in 2006.

Fernandes is a former multiple-time defending ONE Championship bantamweight title holder and also holds decorated jiu-jitsu accolades. He is a five-time world jiu-jitsu champion and three-time Pan American champion.

“I followed Bibiano’s career. I always respected the fact that he jumped into my world straight out of his world championship in jiu-jitsu,” Faber told MMA Junkie. “(He) was just fearless and believing he could do it. I love that about him, and then I followed his career afterwards where he was making his name and going on and becoming a world champion years later.

“So, I love his story. I love his spirit. I love that he’s a world champion because, for me, when I fight a world champion, if I win that world championship, that’s a trophy for me. If I can beat the guy that just won the world championship, what’s that make me? So, that’s the way I look at it.”

Faber has competed in multiple grappling matches since hanging up his UFC gloves in 2019. He most recently submitted Jeff Glover in a combat jiu-jitsu match at his promotion A1 Combat in May and plans to continue challenging himself on the mats.

“I’m going to continue to test myself, take on young up-and-comers, guys with history,” Faber said. “Maybe a match with like a Dominick Cruz or somebody like that, but we had our beef. That’s old news, man (laughs).”