Urijah Faber’s finale a nod to MMA’s past, present, and future

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Even now, heading into his final mixed martial arts fight, a time when few would blame him for taking a victory lap, Urijah Faber deflects the credit when he’s asked about his contributions to the sport.

“The California Kid” was the fighter who brought the smaller weight classes to the mainstream, leading the charge as the featherweights and bantamweights of the fondly remembered World Extreme Cagefighting brawled their way from casino ballrooms to major arenas to a merger into the UFC in four years flat.

Faber’s star power in 2007 paved the way for what we’re seeing as we turn the corner into 2017, as fighters like Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey shatter business…