Diego Sanchez and Kevin Lee, the two former UFC colleagues are set to make their promotional debut for Eagle FC in the main event of Eagle FC 46 which takes place on 11th March at the FLXcast Arena City in Miami, Florida. While the younger Lee is the favourite to win the bout over the weathered Sanchez, the latter claims to have a surprise up his sleeve and not only plans to shock Lee but also aims to earn a super lightweight title shot. Best casino in India – https://pokermatch-india.
A former King Of The Cage Welterweight Champion, the closes Diego Sanchez came to a UFC title during his fifteen-year long tenure under Dana White’s promotion was a UFC Lightweight title fight against BJ Penn at UFC 107 in December 2009.
Having parted ways with the Octagon last year, Sanchez joined Russia-based Eagle FC, the nascent MMA promotion of Khabib Nurmagomedov. Before his fight against the former interim UFC lightweight contender, Kevin Lee, came to fruition, Sanchez was heavily speculated to make a switch to bare-knuckle boxing and was just inches away from inking a deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), but a mixed martial arts title was still on the veteran’s bucket list.
I still have more to give to the MMA community: Diego Sanchez
Speaking to Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com, Sanchez revealed that he still feels he has some unfinished business in the cage, and even though he is the underdog against Lee, the 40-year-old plans to surprise his opponent before he landing a shot at the title at 165.
“In January, Ali (Abdelaziz) hit me up and said ‘Eagle FC they want you, Diego, they want you, they want your name. We want to bring you to our organization and treat you like the legend that you are.’” said Sanchez, “I was already in negotiations for BKFC, and that was going really well, I had a nice bag that was ready for me to do BKFC, but the way things ended in 2021 with my career and UFC, I’m a legacy pioneer of mixed martial arts, so being a pioneer I felt like I needed to finish the final chapters I didn’t get to finish. I still have more to give to the MMA community.”
Even though there is an 11-year age gap between the two, Sanchez believes its his legacy to remain in MMA until he can have a belt around his waist and for that, he revealed to have taken a pay cut to opt for Eagle FC over BKFC.
“I’m 40, Kevin Lee is 29 so that is all I want to do and make a statement. Diego Sanchez is not just a dogfighter, a mentally tough fighter, a physically gifted and tough durable name. Yeah, I have those attributes but I’m also a skilled warrior that has an understanding of mixed martial arts,” the “Nightmare” went on, “I had to go through wars and it wasn’t easy to get what I got. That is why I took a pay cut to go fight for Eagle FC instead of BKFC because it’s about my legacy, Diego Sanchez’s legacy, everything I did from the start to the finish. For me to capitalize with a triumphant victory it will be a statement that can not be denied. I’m going out there to use all my skills.”
“Once Kevin Lee realizes, I’m not what he thought I was, when he sees that I can strike, move and fight he will try and take me down. The takedown is coming and I have my counter-attacks and strategies ready to be victorious… I have many tools to win this fight whether it’s by submission or on the feet, all I know is the guy he’s watching on tape is not the guy who I am. I’m a pressure fighter and I will pressure him, get into his face, and hit him with stuff and that is where I believe the fight will change.”
“It’s all about the body, I got three fights with Eagle FC so I’m on a mission to get the 165lbs super lightweight title. After that, I’m going to reassess and see what is going on, I might do BKFC after this. I always wanted to do a fight with no gloves,” Sanchez added.
Highlights:
- Former UFC fighter Diego Sanchez hopeful of defeating Kevin Lee at Eagle FC 46 and hopes to earn a super lightweight title shot
Do you believe Diego Sanchez will surprise Kevin Lee at Eagle FC 46? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Purchase the UFC merch here.
Click to Predict here
SHARE
