Bantamweight contenders Urijah Faber and Michael McDonald will put their friendship aside on Dec. 14, as the two are set to collide in the co-main event of a UFC on FOX event.
Both 135-pounders were victorious at a UFC Fight Night event on Aug. 17.
Faber (29-6) beat Iuri Alcantara by unanimous decision to extend his current win streak to three.
McDonald (16-2) submitted Brad Pickett in a performance that earned him $100,000 in bonuses — $50,000 for Fight of The Night and $50,000 for Submission of The Night.
This matchup with McDonald was not the UFC’s first choice for Faber, however.
The former WEC champion was being considered for a coaching spot on The Ultimate Fighter 19 against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, according to UFC Tonight. Edgar, now a 145-pounder, didn’t want to cut down to Faber’s weight class, so the UFC decided to pin Edgar against former rival B.J. Penn instead.
The winner of Faber-McDonald could end up earning a title shot, depending on how things unfold at UFC 165 and the health situation of Dominick Cruz.
At UFC 165 on Sept. 21 in Toronto, Renan Barao will look to defend his interim bantamweight title against Eddie Wineland, while Cruz – the UFC’s true bantamweight champ – is aiming to return to the cage in early 2014 following a series of knee surgeries and setbacks.
Faber lost a decision to Barao at UFC 149 last summer and McDonald was submitted by the Brazilian in February, but both men still believe they have what it takes to become a UFC champion.
A lightweight title fight between new champ Anthony Pettis and Canadian T.J. Grant is being targeted as the night’s main event, but it’s uncertain if Grant, who is recovering from a concussion, will be ready in time for the event.
Bigfoot vs. Hunt
A heavyweight matchup featuring knockout artists Antonio Silva and Mark Hunt will headline a UFC Fight Night event in Brisbane, Australia on Dec. 7.
Silva (18-5) is coming off a first-round TKO loss to champion Cain Velasquez at UFC 160 in May, while Hunt (9-8) was knocked out by Junior dos Santos at the same event.
The bout is scheduled for five rounds since it’s a main event, though no one is expecting it to go the distance.
Shogun vs. Te-Huna
A dynamic light-heavyweight bout between Mauricio Rua vs. James Te-Huna will serve as the co-main event for the Brisbane card.
Rua (21-8) is looking to snap a two-fight losing streak and is coming off a surprise first-round submission loss to Chael Sonnen in August.
Te-Huna (16-6) is also aiming to get back on the winning track after being submitted by Glover Teixeira in May in a fight he took on short notice.
Browne vs. Miocic being targeted
Travis Browne vs. Stipe Miocic is being targeted for a December UFC event, according to a report from UFC Tonight.
If the matchup is booked it could potentially serve as a No. 1 contender’s match as both fighters are coming off big wins in the heavyweight division.
Browne (15-1-1) is coming off two straight Knockout of the Night victories over Alistair Overeem and Gabriel Gonzaga, while Miocic (10-1) picked up the biggest win of his career in his last outing when he beat Roy Nelson at UFC 161 in Winnipeg.
