Faber back in the fold in March

By Steve Sievert

Reigning featherweight champion Urijah Faber will return to the cage next month to headline World Extreme Cagefighting's second show in Las Vegas.

"The California Kid" and current WEC poster boy, who's coming off a dominant submission-winning performance against Joe Pearson in January, will face Dominick Cruz March 24 at the Hard Rock's Joint. Faber, 27, is an impressive 17-1 (2-0 in the WEC) and brings a brand of full-throttle, maximum-contact MMA that fans love. Not only that, chicks dig him - just ask him!

Cruz is a relative newcomer, having just started fighting professionally two years ago. He's come out on top in all seven of his bouts, but takes a quantum step up in caliber of competition when he faces Faber.

We'll shine the spotlight on Faber and get his take on what it's like to be the face of an MMA promotion in the Chronicle's Mixed Martial Arts Notebook. Check it out Monday.