Former UFC light-weight title challenger and Final Fighter winner, Diego Sanchez is about for his enterprise to the boxing ring subsequent month, reserving a combat in opposition to fellow Octagon veteran, John Makdessi on the ICS Mania 1 card in his native New Mexico.
Sanchez, a veteran fan-favorite contender throughout his storied Octagon tenure, departed the promotion again in 2020, following a unanimous determination defeat to Jake Matthews at UFC 253 within the Center East.
Nonetheless, making his most up-to-date combined martial arts outing in opposition to former interim UFC light-weight title challenger, Kevin Lee underneath the banner of Eagle FC again in 2022 in an excellent light-weight pairing, Sanchez would drop a choice loss.
Diego Sanchez books boxing debut in opposition to UFC alum, John Makdessi
And making a short BKFC (Naked Knuckle Combating Championship) outing again in 2023 in opposition to former world boxing champion, Austin Trout, Sanchez suffered an eventual fourth spherical knockout loss.
Obligatory Credit score: Josh Hedges – Zuffa LLC
Throughout a latest interview with KRQE final week, Sanchez confirmed his debut combat in skilled boxing in opposition to former UFC light-weight challenger, Makdessi — expressing his pleasure at competing within the sport for the primary time.
“It’s a dream come true,” Diego Sanchez mentioned. “I was there when Johnny Tapia fought there and I always had the dream of fighting there and that was even before the dream I had of fighting. Later as I got older and I was in the UFC, I always worked hard to try and get the UFC there and it never happened. We know that the ghost of Johnny Tapia, I know he is going to be there, and yeah maybe he will be haunting our opponents.”
“I am ready to go in there and beat this dude with one hand, you know because this isn’t kickboxing, this isn’t the UFC,” Diego Sanchez defined. “I am going to put pressure, I am going to put pace, and I am going to fight for Albuquerque, I am going to fight for New Mexico. I am going to go in there and I am going to put it on this guy.”
Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities
Within the night time’s headliner, former undisputed UFC gentle heavyweight champions, Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans will rekindle their fifteen-year-old rivalry in a rematch contained in the squared circle this time round.
