Urijah Faber planning to retire at the top as UFC champion?

Is Urijah Faber’s career coming to an end soon? Faber’s Team Alpha Male teammate Cody Garbrandt seems to think that it might be the case, with “The California Kid” taking a bow at the top of the game. Garbrandt spoke on the Submission Radio show about his mentor’s future in fighting (transcribed by Bloody Elbow):

“If Urijah would be the champion I think he would beat Cruz in the next fight. We talked about it before, he’ll go out as champion, retire,” Garbradt said. “Urijah has done so much for the sport and been a world champion, he’s been the Featherweight king at the WEC – and people seem to forget Urijah ruled that era for a very long time, fought some of the best fighters. What else would he have to prove? You win the title and go out, storybook ending. Boom, done.”

Garbrandt went on to reiterate how great of an ending it would be for Faber and his storied career.

“We talked about it. I mean, what else does he do? You beat Cruz, who just beat TJ for the title,” he said. “His fight with Cruz is a storybook ending. He’s had his career, being champion and then fighting back, losing the title, coming back, dropping a weight class, losing a close fight to the champion, another title fight, losing these close title fights and then coming back and then winning the last fight to win the title. That’s the [sic] story book ending.”

“No Love” then went on to look at the bigger picture with himself included in it.

“So then the title would be up for grabs, but yeah, I don’t think I could ever fight Urijah. For sure, never. I would never want to, and I don’t think that would be a possibility,” he said. “He’s only got a few more fights left, maybe the one, maybe the Cruz fight.”

“So yeah, I hope that never had to come down to it. He’s given me so much in my life and helped out so much, with letting me on the team and just opened a bunch of doors for me. He knows that I would never want to fight him, world title or not. That’s where if something happened, I would really probably walk away probably, because I have so much respect for Urijah and just as a human being and a person that he is.”

What are your thoughts on Garbrandt’s loyalty to his mentor and coach? Share your thoughts with us in the comments on the tough decisions that involve titles and teammates.