Diego Sanchez ‘Looking To Do a Michael Bisping Story’ Before he Retires
It seems as though Diego
Sanchez has been with the
Ultimate Fighting Championship forever. At 36 years of age one
might think the former “Nightmare” would be ready to hang up the
gloves. According to the veteran, the hunger still burns and he
wants to make one last run at the welterweight belt before he
retires.
Sanchez joined the UFC in 2005 after winning the inaugural season of “The Ultimate Fighter” by defeating Kenny Florian in the middleweight tournament. Since that night he has amassed an astonishing 26 fights in the Octagon with notable wins over Nick Diaz, Joe Stevenson and his unforgettable rock ‘em sock ’em war against Clay Guida.
“The Dream” is coming off of back-to-back first-round TKO losses to
Matt
Brown and Al Iaquinta,
a streak he will need to snap if he is serious about making that
run.
While age and form are against him, the fact he is not currently ranked in the welterweight division doesn’t deter Sanchez, who says he’ll be looking to harness his warrior spirit and is using Michael Bisping’s achievements late in his career as proof it can be done.
“I’m chasing after my destiny to become the UFC champion,” Sanchez told UFC.com. “I’m looking to do a Michael Bisping story, but it’s the Diego Sanchez story and it ends differently than the Michael Bisping story because it ends with that belt around my waist and it ends with me giving all the glory to God for all the trials and tribulations (I’ve been through).
“I’m still durable,” Sanchez continued. “I’m still energized and I am 100 times the fighter than I was at UFC 107 when I stepped into the cage with B.J. Penn. It felt good to look back and see the 27-year-old Diego and now the 36-year-old Diego and think about how they would match up. This 36-year-old Diego would finish the 27-year-old Diego.
“I’m more confident than ever,” he concluded. “My mind is right. I’ve had the time to assess my losses, all of my situations, where I’m at as a mixed martial artist at 36 and I feel like I’m in my prime. It’s 100 percent my time. I’m coming into this fight more confident than I have ever been.”
Sanchez joined the UFC in 2005 after winning the inaugural season of “The Ultimate Fighter” by defeating Kenny Florian in the middleweight tournament. Since that night he has amassed an astonishing 26 fights in the Octagon with notable wins over Nick Diaz, Joe Stevenson and his unforgettable rock ‘em sock ’em war against Clay Guida.
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While age and form are against him, the fact he is not currently ranked in the welterweight division doesn’t deter Sanchez, who says he’ll be looking to harness his warrior spirit and is using Michael Bisping’s achievements late in his career as proof it can be done.
“I’m chasing after my destiny to become the UFC champion,” Sanchez told UFC.com. “I’m looking to do a Michael Bisping story, but it’s the Diego Sanchez story and it ends differently than the Michael Bisping story because it ends with that belt around my waist and it ends with me giving all the glory to God for all the trials and tribulations (I’ve been through).
“I’m still durable,” Sanchez continued. “I’m still energized and I am 100 times the fighter than I was at UFC 107 when I stepped into the cage with B.J. Penn. It felt good to look back and see the 27-year-old Diego and now the 36-year-old Diego and think about how they would match up. This 36-year-old Diego would finish the 27-year-old Diego.
“I’m more confident than ever,” he concluded. “My mind is right. I’ve had the time to assess my losses, all of my situations, where I’m at as a mixed martial artist at 36 and I feel like I’m in my prime. It’s 100 percent my time. I’m coming into this fight more confident than I have ever been.”
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