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Zelaznik expects TUF search for new weight classes

Urijah Faber is a huge fans' favourite © Getty Images

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Urijah Faber put down a marker with victory over Takeya Mizugaki on his bantamweight debut at WEC 52, and Marshall Zelaznik anticipates there will soon by a TUF series to scour the globe for new talent in the UFC's soon-to-be-added divisions.

A former featherweight champion, Faber stepped down to 135lbs in Las Vegas and looked in phenomenal shape as he pursued Mizugaki in typically relentless fashion. Having started his assault with a guillotine attempt, Faber eventually secured back mount to lock on a rear naked choke which left his foe unconscious with 10 seconds remaining of round one.

"I didn't realize he was out for so long," Faber explained at the post-fight news conference. "But I knew he was going out, because I could tell how deep it was. For the most part, I was choking him with one arm. I looked up, and he was stiffened up on top of me, and it was kind of scary. You don't want to do that to someone."

Such was the class of Faber's victory that he is already being linked to a title shot against the winner of Dominick Cruz and Scott Jorgensen at WEC 53, and Faber knows who he wants.

"[Scott and I] have a good relationship. He's a guy I helped get into the sport a little bit. We've trained a bunch together. He's mentally tough," said Faber. "I'd rather fight Dominick, but I'm rooting for Scott [to win that fight]."

The imminent merger of the WEC with the UFC will see a bunch of smaller fighters added to the UFC roster at bantamweight and featherweight, but UK UFC president Zelaznik anticipates the organisation launching a TUF series to add to their selection.

"We would select which fighters will be on the show, we would have the try-outs, then the production, so it's many months down the road, which allows Joe [Silva] to anticipate their arrival," said Zelaznik, explaining the process that must be implemented.

"I think we're doing middleweights for the next TUF series (TUF 13), but I'm sure Dana and Joe will be talking about the new weight categories to give these fighters the notoriety that they need."

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