He’s 46. Why Sacramento MMA Hall of Famer Urijah Faber will fight again tonight
Shortly after his ceremonial weigh-in Thursday, Urijah Faber squared off against the man he will fight Friday, Francisco Rivera Jr., and playfully extended two fingers.
Faber, a 46-year-old UFC Hall of Famer who lives in East Sacramento, accidentally caught Rivera in the eye with a finger while throwing a three-punch combination during their 2014 fight in UFC 181. Faber went on to win the fight, with some controversy.
So when Faber, who is retired from UFC but continues to fight, put out word that he was looking to fight again, Rivera posted that he wanted a rematch. They will meet for what was billed as “a high-stakes Combat Jiu-Jitsu Superfight” in the news release for the event.
“He is out for blood, which is OK with me,” Faber said Thursday. “I like that. I need that sometimes.”
Those who attend Friday’s event at Hard Rock Live in Wheatland will get a curious sight. One of Sacramento’s most famous fighters, Faber doesn’t need to compete anymore. He’s not fighting for a purse , though he owns the promotions company hosting the event.
But there are other factors motivating Faber to get in the cage once more.
What is A1 Combat 33?
Faber and Rivera’s fight will be the main event for a brisk night of fights.
Nick Maximov, current middleweight champion, will fight Buddy Wallace. There are a total of 17 fights scheduled, with Faber and Rivera scheduled to fight around 8:45 p.m. Friday according to Tom Anderson, president of Faber’s promotions company.
The level of competition is below UFC, Anderson admitted.
“We’re the farm team for them,” Anderson said. “We’re developing the talent for them, and then they take it from us.”
There have been successes for A1 fighters who’ve gone on to UFC, notably Payton Talbott, who Anderson referred to as “a rising star.”
Faber, who wrestled at UC Davis before becoming a professional fighter nicknamed “The California Kid,” has been happy to step into a fighter development role in recent years. He has been involved with Combat U, billed as a public-private partnership between Sacramento State and Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness, his Folsom Boulevard gym.
Faber last fought a UFC bout in December 2019, a fight he lost. He has fought other times since, in places like Abu Dhabi and Cancun, Mexico.
“I’ve had a lot of high-level, high-level matches since I’ve retired,” Faber said. “And I just like to challenge myself. I like to test what I’m teaching and I’ve been having a great time.”
In 2022, Faber competed at the U.S. Open for wrestling in Las Vegas.
“I took second,” Faber said. “I was in the finals with an Olympic-level guy and I got thrown on my head. I did it all for free. I love to compete.”
He also said he enjoys jiu-jitsu, saying it was a happy place of sorts for him.
“For me, it’s like human chess,” Faber said.
Who will be at Friday’s fight
Faber will have company on Friday. He said he’ll have family, friends and longtime supporters in attendance. His son, 5, and his daughter, 6, will also be there to see him fight.
“They just had their first wrestling match not too long ago,” Faber said. “So they’re in the mix and they’re excited.”
Faber will face a fighter in Rivera who said he felt he was winning their 2014 fight before the eye poke. Both fighters’ weights were announced as an even 160 pounds Thursday.
Rivera didn’t disclose what he was being paid for Friday’s fight. Money didn’t appear to be his only motivator.
“I’m definitely going to try to get my payback and try to choke him out — see if I can pull off the win,” Rivera said. “I know he’s a good wrestler and he’s known for his submissions, but people will be surprised.”
If you go
What: A1 Combat 33
When: Jan. 30, doors open at 4 p.m., main fight card starts at 7 p.m.
Where: Hard Rock Live, 3317 Forty Mile Road, Wheatland
Tickets: Available at a1combat.com
Watch: Streaming at UFC Fight Pass; free watch in the bar area at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Wheatland
This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
