The rematch between former WEC featherweight king Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver was, as some had feared, a mismatch.

The two traded blows during the opening minute, but a Faber left hook to the body changed the tone of the bout instantly. Pulver winced in noticeable pain and backpedaled against the cage. Faber sensed the end was near and pounced on the wounded veteran, buzzing him with punches before he locked in a seated guillotine choke for the tapout. All told, the fight lasted 1:34.

“I worked on my left for six months straight,” Faber said, “and it paid off tonight.”

Faber (22-2) rebounded nicely from his technical knockout defeat to Mike Thomas Brown three months ago and positioned himself for another run at the 145-pound crown. Brown will defend the belt against Leonard Garcia in March; Faber, who has won 14 of 15 fights, figures to draw the victor.

“I think I made a statement,” Faber said. “There’s no secret that I’m going to try my best to get that rematch [with Brown]. I want that belt.”

At 34, the future seems uncertain at best for former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver. The popular and distinguished veteran suffered his third consecutive defeat. Neither of his past two losses has advanced beyond the second minute, leading many to wonder whether or not the time has come for “Little Evil” to call it a career.

Pulver (22-11-1) appears comfortable with his place in mixed martial arts history, despite having lost five of his past six bouts. The four men to whom he has lost in that stretch own a cumulative record of 64-13-1. His extended drought — interrupted only by a quick submission victory against Cub Swanson at WEC 31 in 2007 — began with his surprising knockout loss to Joe Lauzon 28 months ago.

What’s next for Pulver remains unclear, even as he works under the watchful eye of revered MMA trainer Matt Hume. “I just want to get back to the drawing board,” Pulver said. “I’m going right back to Seattle, and I’m going to continue to train. I’m coming — again.”

Text courtesy of Sherdog.com