Should Urijah Faber keep fighting?

Urijah Faber says he’s still got a few fights left in him, but that hasn’t stopped his hometown newspaper, the Sacremento Bee, from calling for his retirement following his lopsided leg-killing loss to WEC featherweight champ José Aldo on Saturday.

“Without Faber, the WEC would not have had its first pay-per-view event Saturday night at Arco Arena. Without Faber, the WEC still would be in the shadows of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Without Faber, WEC fighters would not make the money they do in and out of the ring. But featherweight champion José Aldo delivered a message to Faber – through numerous, painful leg whips – that should have come through loud and clear: Retire. Retire now, not after another loss in which you’re cheered entering the octagon and booed leaving it. Faber couldn’t beat Aldo on Saturday night or any other day of the week. No shame in that. Aldo is a young, powerful kid. He didn’t even use most of his aggressive arsenal against a foe he truly respected. Faber has made Sacramento proud, restoring pride to a once-great fighting city. He’s a true warrior who has survived many battles. Why risk tarnishing that image or risk the chance of injury? Take a bow, Urijah.”

Sure, the beating was bad. Faber could barely walk out of the cage and is still on crutches two days later. But he’s a 23-4 former champ and a  superstar whose presence went a long way toward packing Arco Arena on Saturday night (the event delivered the WEC’s biggest live gate ever, with more than 14,000 fans on hand).

So maybe he’s done at 145 pounds. That title is out of reach to him and most others, anyway, especially as Aldo considers a run at becoming MMA’s first champion in three weight divisions. Does that mean he should hang up the gloves, be put out to pasture? He’s s till only 30 and in amazing shape (watermelon leg excepted). Maybe he should think about cutting to 135. He’d be huge for a bantamweight, kind of like how Georges St. Pierre is at welterweight.