Urijah Faber is angling for a rubber match with UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz, but he's still keeping an eye on 145 pounds.

Faber has fought, trained with or coached against all the major players at featherweight and admits he was disappointed to see longtime champion Jose Aldo dispatched so quickly by Conor McGregor.

McGregor knocked Aldo out in just 13 seconds during their Dec. 12 main event at UFC 194 to become the undisputed featherweight champion.

"I feel really bad for Aldo," Faber told Jonathan Shrager of Mixedmartialarts.com. "Conor wasn't lucky, lucky because obviously he's trained his butt off to get to the point where he can do that, but it was very unlucky for Aldo. I feel bad for Aldo. I feel like he definitely could have had a better performance or at least showed his stuff a little bit better.

"That's rough, but you've got to be impressed with Conor. The guy put his money where his mouth is. That's some legendary s**t right there. That's a legendary thing to do. The build up the way it was with what Conor said and the way he delivered, that's legendary."

Aldo finds himself in a unique spot as a former champ, especially one who hadn't lost in a decade. Aldo was formerly the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but now has to sit and wait to see if McGregor can make history when he challenges lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 197 on March 5.

The Irishman opted to face Dos Anjos rather than defend his title to Frankie Edgar, but Faber believes 'The Answer' should be next for McGregor if and when he returns to 145 pounds.

"You can't deny Frankie," Faber said. "I think it's unfortunate for Aldo. I don't think Aldo needs to fight someone else in order to get a rematch. I don't think he needs to fight his way back but I think Frankie is the next guy. If I were Aldo I would sit out, heal my head, work on whatever you need to work on and then get that fight again. I wouldn't fight again [before the rematch], necessarily. I would just wait, heal and get my chance.

"I think he's earned the right for himself to an immediate rematch but Frankie has earned ... I mean he gets snuffed at every corner."

McGregor didn't leave much tape to study against Aldo, but Faber believes it will certainly help steer Dos Anjos in a certain direction. Calling Aldo "overly aggressive," Faber expects the Brazilian champ to work to take the fight to the mat.

"To be honest, Conor has that knockout power and him being bigger he's going to be even more dangerous, but RDA is no dummy," Faber said. "I think he'll probably learn from Aldo's mistake and he'll learn from Chad Mendes' success. I think he'll try real hard to grapple and make it an ugly fight with Conor.

"If that's the case it's going to be a bad day for Conor. Unless Conor makes some big improvements, which I would think and hope as a world champion and student of the sport that he's wrestling and doing jiu jitsu every day. If he does his homework it's anybody's fight."

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Undisputed. Dominick Cruz explains why winning back the UFC bantamweight title actually isn't the best moment of his life.

'I do feel like I won that fight.' T.J. Dillashaw says "pressure, controlling the Octagon and landing bigger strikes" should have earned him the win over Dominick Cruz.

'It's tough to take risks against a guy like that.' Eddie Alvarez says he would have been "stupid not to" exploit the "deep hole" in Anthony Pettis' game.

'It was an accident.' Travis Browne insists he's "not a dirty fighter" after his foul-filled win over Matt Mitrione.

'That's what I want.' Ronda Rousey says she's still planning on Holly Holm rematch before the end of 2016.

MEDIA STEW

UFC 196 Extended Preview.

UFC 195: Fight Motion.

Highlights from RFA 34.

Free Fight: Cain Velasquez vs Brock Lesnar.

This was released right before the Cruz-Dillashaw fight but still very much worth watching.

TTTHS.

Long watches.

...

TWEETS

Victory lap.

Feeling is mutual buddy! RT @JamesVickMMA: I swear @TheDomin8r you are my fucking hero!! Love you bro!!! — Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) January 19, 2016

Missing my main man Mark Henry But the Home team Got the job done !!! ### team... https://t.co/vf7TkXD8nh — Edward Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) January 18, 2016

You need two warriors to make a great battle ! Thanks @bensaundersMMA for the good scrap !! All respect !! #UFCBoston @ufc — patrick cote (@patrick_cote) January 18, 2016

Thank you Boston and @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta ! Time to go back to Miami and stay ready for my next fight and bonus — Ilir Latifi (@Latifimma) January 18, 2016

Better luck next time.

I Want to apologize to all of my supports, came up short last night.... Only way to go is up... https://t.co/0flqrCXkiF — Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) January 18, 2016

Headed back to the 414!! Need a real fight ASAP !!! @sergiopettis mobfigaz_ap9 @ufc @ Boston... https://t.co/D7ycBqXmDB — Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) January 18, 2016

Getting my eyelid drained this morning. Was not awesome. pic.twitter.com/LYgrEKlmHc — Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) January 19, 2016

It wasn't my night...but BIG Props to @patrick_cote I said it was an honor to fight him, and I stand by that statement. Congrats brother! :) — Ben Saunders (@bensaundersMMA) January 18, 2016

Dang it!!!!!!!! Thanks for everyone's support and all the fans that came out tonight! — Tim Boetsch (@TimBoetsch) January 18, 2016

次こそ頑張ります～ i will come back strong!!! para la proxima si Dios quiere : ) @ Westin Coppley Hotel,... https://t.co/kYhmYsg3ul — Maximo Blanco (@maxi_blanco) January 18, 2016

Tough fight @ TD Garden https://t.co/SfZR4qh0wC — Daron Cruickshank (@Cruickshank155) January 18, 2016

Tough fight A photo posted by Daron Cruickshank (@daroncruickshank) on Jan 17, 2016 at 5:41pm PST





Losing is the worst feeling ever. I don't want to talk about it. But at least I have a treat... https://t.co/KMnWoC2pM5 — Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) January 18, 2016

Chillin with the original Killa B Saunders! Awesome dude! pic.twitter.com/Tc1gJBevsy — kyle bochniak (@KyleBochniak) January 18, 2016

No excuse rob was the better guy 2night was lookin for 1 big punch and was really nervous congrats @RobSFont — Joey Gomez (@gomezthefirst35) January 18, 2016

Please be careful.

Back to Hilo.

Big business.

Excited?

Hora de trabalhar mais ainda!! Vamos nessa!! #TeamGadelha Time to work even more!! Let's get it done!! #TeamClaudia pic.twitter.com/LVz4cEK8BL — Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) January 18, 2016

Beef.

@TonyFergusonXT UFC 198 in April is perfect for me. Looking for fight with Alvarez or you. You want this fight? Call UFC — khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 18, 2016

@RusHammerMMA real original there buddy how does Conor's dick taste in your mouth? — Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) January 18, 2016

Beat up your coach,sell out your team...and as part of the warm up they stab each other in the back at #TeamSnakeInTheGrass @IamTheImmortal — Artem Lobov (@RusHammerMMA) January 18, 2016

Haha obliterate is a strong word for a guy who made sure I wasnt in the room when he called me out @jinenreddy @RusHammerMMA @IamTheImmortal — Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) January 18, 2016

@WhOopassWilliE I think Willie is a Paddy Holohan fan I don't blame ya Meet me in Croatia you bum and while ur at it #hireamanager — Patrick Holohan (@PaddyHolohanMMA) January 18, 2016

@PaddyHolohanMMA oh and I have a manager @IridiumSports same as @LASTSAMURAIUFC we love easy wins and bonuses you clown — Willie Gates (@WhOopassWilliE) January 18, 2016

Dang.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Jan. 18 2016)

Hector Lombard vs. Neil Magny at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.