Urijah Faber (23-3)  returned to the cage in the co-featured match at WEC 46 and scored a thrilling submission victory in the closing seconds of the third round over Raphael Assuncao (14-2).  Faber, sidelined for seven month after suffering a broken hand in his championship bout loss to former WEC champion Mike Brown.   Fighting in front of his hometown fans in Sacramento, Faber put on an exciting display of technique in a defintive victory.

Faber Victorious In Return

Here is the play-by-play call of the bout:

Round 1

Faber scores first with a leg kick. Assuncao misses with a superman punch and grabs a clinch to back Faber into the cage wall.  Assuncao has double underhooks, but Faber is able to work his way out of the clinch.  Faber runs forward and misses with an overhand right.  Assuncao grabs another clinch and pushes Faber into the wall again.  Assuncao lands a few blows to the head and lets Faber off the cage wall.  Faber comes forward and lands an overhand right and backs Assuncao into the cage wall.  Back to the center, Faber lands a left uppercut.  Faber lunges forward and loses his balance.  Faber lunges forward again, Assuncao catches double underhooks again and pushes Faber into the cage wall.  Faber breaks the clinch and the fighters exchange wildly.  Faber lands a left uppercut on the chin.  Faber goes for a flying knee, but Assuncao defends and counters with strikes.

Close round that goes to Assuncao.  Faber was the aggressor, but his sloppiness cost him round.

Round 2

The fighters circle each other, with Faber scoring a takedown.  Assuncao catches an arm bar during the takedown attempt, but Faber breaks the submission attempt.  Assuncao has guard, but Faber is actively striking.  Faber cinches a guillotine choke, but Assuncao counters submission attempt by rolling out.  Fighters back to their feet. Assuncao lunges forward with lower leg kick and is caught flush by an overhand right.  Assuncao is floored, Faber pounces, but Assuncao catches another arm bar. Faber break the submission and Assuncao take guard.  Assuncao scores nice elbows from the bottom as Faber is conservative on top.  Assuncao attempts a ogoplata, but Faber strikes Assuncao in face hard to break lock.  Faber grabs sidelock along cage wall, but Assuncao breaks free as bell sounds

Clear round for Faber.  Great strikes and clean scoring along with some great defense.

Round 3

Faber starts the round with a powerful single leg takedown.  Assuncao scrambles and is back on his feet.  Assuncao goes for a single leg, but Faber hits a whizzer to defend.  Faber goes for kick to head and Assuncao sweeps his leg.  Faber pops back up quickly and lands an overhand right that floors Assuncao.  Faber pounces, but Assuncao claims guard.  Faber is unable to break guard, but Assuncao moves for an escape with time dwindling.  Faber grabs his back, gets his hooks in and cinches the rear naked choke.  Assuncao fights it off for a short period but has to tapout.

Result

Faber by rear naked choke submission at 3:49 of the third round.

After the bout, post-fight interviews in the ring shed some light on Faber future dance card, as current WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo came in for a promo.  It appears that Aldo/Faber is likely the next feature title bout for these two fighters.

Given the electricity the fighters display, this could be fight of the year in MMA.