Faber vs. Alcantara

This is the official discussion thread for Faber vs. Alcantara. Let's see what you've got.

gebe you realize Faber fights nothing like Machida and  he never loses title fights beginning with his loss to Tyson Griffin at Gladiator Challenge.  but seeing how decisions have gone recently that could feasibly happen. 

* Edited at 08.06.2013, 6:40 PM ET *

^I don't think that's what he meant, probably just means that if a fight goes to decision then you really have no idea who won, regardless how the fight went.

And Urijah's fight with Tyson was actually for a title. So literally all of Faber's losses were in title fights, that's kind of funny.

I'm not discrediting Alcantara, I like him and I think he has potential, but he has 2 fights in the UFC and they already trowing him to the wolves

Alcantara's had 5 fights in the UFC, and also fought Ricardo Lamas in the WEC at their last show. That being said, Faber has tooled Bowles, Menjivar, and Jorgensen and Alcantara lost to Hacran Dias, can't see Alcantara winning here.

@gebe. True, but we knew Davis had better wrestling than Machida (and it's debatable that he actually beat him). Seems Faber has Alcantara beat on all facets of MMA.

* Edited at 08.06.2013, 7:01 PM ET *

but Machida had the best TDD of the division

^^He probably still does......

sorry , HAS, was reffering to the fact that those 2 attributes cancel each other out mostly, and on the paper there was no damn way phil could to anything to Faber.

I'm just saying fighting is sooo unpredictable. One punch is all you need, and if Serra GSP happend, it can happen anywhere

I'm looking for this fight to be pretty fast paced .. Excited!!

" I think that his name brings great promotion to the FS1 network. He is by far no doubt the biggest star of the UFC below 155 pounds. "

You on crack!?!?!? There's some guy named Aldo that's a bigger star, oh yeah and Frankie Edgar, and eh what's his name Dominick Cruz, and that Barao guy. This isn't 2008 dude. I admittedly think Faber has been overrated for ages, is boring, and just had no one to contend with him back in the day, but I feel like most every MMA fan I know thinks Faber is a lame California d-bag. Dude hasn't really beaten anyone good other than a young inexperienced Cruz.

I'm picking Alcantara and I admit it's probably not where the smart money is at, but I think this fight is going to be far more competitive than people think.

EDIT: I remember people thinking I was crazy for saying the Jorgensen fight wasn't going to be easy for Faber and look how that turned out and I think Alcantara doesn't have the veterany-ness that Jorgensen has but he's more explosive, athletic and has way more upside.

* Edited at 08.07.2013, 9:19 PM ET *

@tama you are talking about if he's the best fighter and if he's exciting or not.   that's different from being the biggest star.

4 out of 5 of Faber's most recent victories are all over guys who have held a belt at 135 or fought for one. Saying a win over a young Dom Cruz is his biggest win makes zero sense.

I don't like Faber, but the idea that he is not one of the biggest stars is ludicrous. Go find a person that watches MMA only once in a while (like every other month). If you ask them to name fighters at 145 and below, I guarantee Faber will be one of the first people they can name. Aldo's star doesn't shine as bright as it should because he can't speak English. 

As for Faber being overrated, no. He has not ever been overrated. He dominated the 145 division when it was weak, no doubt, but he was #1 at the time it was weak. When it became apparent there was a changing of the guard with Mike Brown and Jose Aldo, he moved down. Since then he has lost only to Dominick Cruz and Renan Barao. His list of wins includes Eddie Wineland (has an upcoming title fight with Renan Barao), Brian Bowles (former WEC Bantamweight champion), and Scott Jorgenson (one-time title challenger for WEC & UFC belts).

For those saying we're underrating Alcantara, we're probably not. I believe Alcantara is easily top 10 in the UFC BW division. The thing is he's almost as old as Urijah and he hasn't fought as good of competition. Faber's never lost a non-title fight. With those things in mind, Urijah should clearly be the favorite.

I'll concede that Faber might be more known to people who barely watch MMA , but I don't think that makes him a bigger star in the sport. I think if you polled the MMA community - including fair weather fans and hardcore fans -  and asked who is a bigger star Aldo or Faber, Aldo would definitely come out on top. I just can't think of a time that anyone I know - which admittedly is a small sample size - bought a card to see a Faber fight or that a Faber fight was hyped by the UFC or Dana. I just don't see him as a draw.

As far as his list of win including Eddie Wineland, Brian Bowles, and Scott Jorgensen - those guys just aren't that good. Basically a list of journeymen gatekeepers who were challenged for the title when the weight classes were weaker and have lost to most everyone good - other than Bowles one punching Torres.

Also, how is his win over the otherwise undefeated champ Dominick Cruz not his biggest win?!? Cruz is definitely better than the above fighters and the next best fighters Faber has fought are submission defense master Jens Pulver and somewhat successful Japanese guy Takeya Mizugaki.

Faber will always be #2 no matter the weight class. He's a great fighter, but he won't ever be a champion again. He refuses to change his strategy. If he mixed his wrestling with his striking and didn't make his style so predicatable i think he would fare much better in his fights, and maybe thats something Duane Bang is finally helping him realize..... but i don't see him ever being a champ again.

Faber is great but like someone said before he will never be champ again.. The combination of Very decent Striking ability, game changing Wrestling and some of the best Grappling i've ever seen will carry him in this one.. i would say he would win by KO but i've never seen Alcantara's chin fail him

I can see a legit scenario where Faber is champ , and it could happen sooner than later.

Cruz retires due to injury

Aldo moves to LW and Barao moves to FW  (Both have said thats their plans the only question is when will Aldo move up)

Then as long as Faber can beat McDonald and Alcantara hell finally be champ  :p

True, that could happen.

I think he could / can beat Barao/Cruz if he fought them now and had a full camp.  Especially since they are coming off injuries.   

Cruz especially, worse injury and a long layoff.

That's alot of variables, Aldo has a few fights left at 145 and Barao has only defended the interim title once. Plus i don't think Barao is a very large 135, he'd be better suited to stay at 135 for his career.

Not trying to be disagreeable but Barao is the same weight as Aldo, I've heard some say he's heavier.

http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/02/if-ufc-champ-jose-aldo-moves-up-in-weight-teammate-renan-barao-could-follow

"Actually, I'm naturally the same weight as Aldo, but I cut more to make weight," Barao said. "I think I would suffer a lot less. I sacrifice a lot by cutting. I'd be able to eat a little better and relax a little more.

"I think the weight cut is what makes me most nervous going into a fight. I get very neurotic. I would be much more relaxed."