Faber Hands Pulver First Ever Loss at 145

Despite the shutout decision victory, a WEC 34 title fight between WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber (21-1) and Jens Pulver (22-9-1) was much more entertaining than the judges' scores of 50-44 would indicate.

The title fight, billed as the biggest featherweight fight in MMA history, capped off Sunday's "WEC: Faber vs. Pulver" event at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif.

Faber showed a polished stand-up game and an iron jaw as he delivered former UFC champion Pulver his first-ever career loss at 145 pounds."It's something I've always had," Faber said of his striking skills. "Jens has power, guys, but I haven't had a chance to really show mine."

Faber had punched his way to near-victory on numerous occasions, and though Pulver was staggered and dazed through the 25-minute battle, he always found a way to survive.

Despite the loss, Pulver did manage to accomplish something that no other opponent has done in nearly four years and 17 fights: he took Faber to a decision.

In the night's co-main event, WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres (34-1) posted his first successful title defense since defeating former champ Chase Beebe in February.

However, unlike much of the opposition in the champ's previous 14 consecutive victories, Yoshiro Maeda (23-5-2) proved a game opponent who, at least initially, could handle a frantic and relentless pace from Torres.

Torres used dangerous counter-striking, precise body kicks and an array of other blows to batter his opponent throughout three rounds of a scheduled five. A quick left hand repeatedly found its mark, and though some crowd-pleasing ground battles were had, it was the constant stream of strikes that had Maeda's face a mess.

By the end of the third round, he could barely see out of either eye. The swelling was substantial -- and enough to force a stoppage before a fourth round would get underway.

The result was a third-round TKO stoppage and a signature victory for the 27-year-old Torres.