Urijah Faber, the trailblazer behind Team Alpha Male, has always been a step ahead. Not just in founding A1 Combat but also as a sub-155-pound MMA superstar. He’s turning 45 on May 14. Quite the journey, huh?
Back in his college days at the University of California-Davis, wrestling was his game. He was good, qualifying for nationals twice. Then came 2003, and MMA caught his eye. Faber dove in, winning 21 of his first 22 fights. King of the Cage bantamweight champ? Check. Then he moved to World Extreme Cagefighting, snagging the featherweight title and holding onto it from March 17, 2006, to November 5, 2008.
2011 was the year Faber joined the UFC. His record? 9-6 over 15 fights. After retiring in 2016 with a win over Brad Pickett, he didn’t stay away for long. A comeback in 2019 saw him stop Ricky Simon in 46 seconds at UFC Fight Night 155. But a head kick from Petr Yan later that year put him back on the sidelines. Now, he’s eyeing a return at A1 Combat 25, facing Jeff Glover in a combat jiu-jitsu match on May 25.
May’s packed with MMA birthdays, starting with Kiichi Kunimoto and Nissen Osterneck turning 43 on May 1. The list goes on, featuring names like Chad Mendes, Dakota Cochrane, and Khamzat Chimaev, with ages ranging from 43 down to 27. May 2 brings more celebrations, with Mina Kurobe at 47 and a slew of fighters in their 40s and 30s. May 3 highlights include Sam Greco at 57 and Shonie Carter at 52.
The birthdays roll on with fighters from all over the globe marking another year. From Marcus Aurelio and Victor Henry on May 4 to Alex Schoenauer and Bruce Boyington on May 5. Each day brings its own list of warriors, each with their own stories, victories, and journeys within the MMA world.
Urijah Faber’s May 14 birthday is a standout, sharing the date with fighters like Alex Andrade and Tom DeBlass. As May continues, the celebrations spread across the MMA community, highlighting the diversity and global reach of the sport. From legends of the past to rising stars, each day is a reminder of the passion and dedication these athletes bring to the cage.
As the month wraps up, we see a mix of veterans and newcomers marking their birthdays, from Elias Theodorou remembered for his contributions to the sport, to young fighters like Kota Shirakawa setting out on their own paths. Each day, each fight, adds to the rich tapestry of MMA, a sport that continues to captivate and inspire fans around the world.