VanZant, among others. A former collegiate wrestler, Faber made

One of the most, if not the most, iconic smaller weight fighters in mixed martial arts history intends to hang up his gloves at the end of the year.Former WEC featherweight champion and four-time UFC title challenger Urijah Faber, 37, announced on Monday he plans to retire following a Dec. 17 fight against Brad Pickett in Sacramento, California.Faber (33-10) is a longtime Sacramento resident and the founder of Team Alpha Male gym, which currently houses Chad Mendes, Cody Garbrandt and Paige VanZant, among others. A former collegiate wrestler, Faber made his professional fighting debut in 2003 and is universally credited for drawing early attention to smaller weight classes.Ive been teetering with [retirement] for a long time, said Faber during an appearance on The MMA Hour. The thing that Im lucky [about], I have my health and I really love what Im doing, but just as far as the passion goes -- I have passion for what Im doing still, but it doesnt get the same emotion that it has in the past.My favorite fighter of all time is Roy Jones Jr., and I remember them talking about him kind of feeling that -- where he was playing little basketball games the same day as a boxing match. [My last couple fights] I havent found that emotional rise and fall. That is kind of a strange thing for me. I still love what Im doing and thats the reason why Im doing it, but I just feel like this is going to be something thats going to be an emotional thing for me.Faber was the face of the WEC earlier in his career. He won the championship at 145 pounds in 2006 and went on to defend it five times. His title reign included a submission win over now-UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in 2007.Between 2011 and 2016, Faber appeared in four UFC bantamweight title fights but came up short in each one. He suffered a close decision loss to Cruz at UFC 132 in a fight he since has said he thought he won. He also took a TKO loss against Renan Barao in 2014, even though he was showing a thumbs-up to referee Herb Dean at the time the bout was called.In 2012, Faber coached a season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series.Faber will face a fellow veteran in Pickett (25-12), who also fought in the WEC prior to joining the UFC. The televised event will take place at Sacramentos Golden 1 Center. TORONTO -- One of the most interesting aspects of international hockey is the fluidity of allegiances it requires: Enemies are forced to be friends, and friends are made to be enemies.Entering Tuesdays finals opener between Canada and Europe, perhaps the most fascinating matchup to watch will be iron-tough Canadian defenseman Shea Weber against Europes offensive-minded D-man Roman Josi. For four seasons, the 31-year-old Weber and the 26-year-old Josi, a Swiss national, formed an unlikely but potent partnership for the Nashville Predators.Their NHL relationship will change this season after the summers blockbuster trade of Weber to the Montreal Canadiens for P.K. Subban. Because Weber was scratched for Canadas preliminary-round game against Europe, Tuesday will be a preview of sorts, marking the first time theyve skated against each other in a competitive game.Its going to be different playing against him, and not with him, Josi said after his team dispatched Sweden during its near-miraculous run to the World Cup of Hockeys last round. I think for us its going to be a lot of fun playing against Canada in Toronto in the finals. Theres not many better things than that. Im just going to try to enjoy it.Weber agreed. Its going to be fun, he said. Im looking forward to it. Hes a great player. Im proud of him and how far hes come in his development. Hes just going to keep getting better. Hes still young enough where he can continue to improve. But that first game is going to be a little bit different.The pair were more than linemates in Nashville. Their relationship was one of mentor and apprentice. Josi even lived with Weber for a few weeks before training camp in his second season. Weber also regularly organized group dinners just for Nashvilles defense, a way to improve their sense of connection.dddddddddddd With time, Weber and Josi became the unit within the unit.He was one of my best friends, Josi said. It was obviously a big honor to play with him. As a young defenseman, to be able to play with a guy like him, to study a guy like him, was unbelievable.Weber, one of the games strongest players, watched over his protégé with an almost parental concern. During their bruising playoff series against the San Jose Sharks, Joe Thornton tripped Josi in the offensive zone. Josi took exception, skating back and giving Thornton a lunging crosscheck that didnt leave much of a mark.Weber finished the job with a whack across the back that dropped Thornton.Now Thornton and Weber are Canadian teammates (Its a heavy stick, Thornton said, remembering their time in opposition), and Weber will be facing Josi. Whenever the speedy Swiss joins the rush, Weber will be waiting for him with what he promises will be his usual ferocity, despite their friendship.Hockey players are the type of guys, it doesnt matter if youre friends off the ice, Weber said. On the ice, its a common goal. Youre trying to win. It might be a weird thing to some people, but theres a lot of pride and commitment in the goal that youre trying to accomplish. I think that brings out the best in both. Youre still going to continue to be friends off the ice. Its just the competitiveness that comes out in everyone on the ice.How that competitiveness surfaces on Tuesday remains to be seen, but no one knows better than Roman Josi just how heavy Shea Webers stick can be.Its always going to hurt if hes there, Josi said.Love sometimes does. ' ' '