Michael Chiesa: I Would Be Very Foolish To Overlook Diego Sanchez

Two former “The Ultimate Fighter” winners lock horns this weekend at UFC 239 when Season 15 winner Michael Chiesa takes on Season 1 winner Diego Sanchez in a welterweight bout.

While the card at this weekend’s event is stacked from top to bottom to conclude the festivities of International Fight Week, the bout between Chiesa and Sanchez has been earmarked as a must-watch fight and is set to kick off the main card in style.

Many critics believed that Sanchez was past his best after being knocked out in back-to-back fights against Al Iaquinta and Matt Brown in 2017 but the veteran has proved the critics wrong and bounced back with two wins over Craig White and most recently against Mickey Gall this March.

Despite Sanchez recently announcing his sudden departure from Jackson-Wink MMA, which he’s been a part of since his UFC debut, Chiesa believes it would be foolish to write off the crafty veteran.

“Man, this guy is looking like his vintage self,” Chiesa told MMA Junkie Radio. “Styles make fights. Who wouldn’t want to see me fighting Diego Sanchez? That’s a good clash of styles, and seeing him go back to his old ways, just the way he fights – it’s also his mentality.

“He’s at the age he’s at and he’s still winning fights,” Chiesa said.” I just don’t know how you overlook a guy like that. That’s very foolish. Especially with his skill set, especially with his mentality. It makes for a dangerous man, makes for a fun fight, makes for a great challenge.”

UFC 239 will be headlined with two title fights with the main-event featuring Jon Jones who will be defending his light heavyweight title against Thiago Santos. Amanda Nunes puts her bantamweight belt on the line when she takes on the former 135-pound champion in Holly Holm.