mma / News

Diego Sanchez Says His Fight With Michel Pereira Isn’t ‘Time to Dance’

February 15, 2020 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas

Diego Sanchez spoke with MMA Fighting ahead of his fight with Michel Pereira tonight at UFC on ESPN+ 25.

On Pereira’s movement-heavy style: “I don’t look at it as time to dance. Would we dance on the battlefield if I was coming at you with a sword? Hell no. Hell no you wouldn’t. That’s what I’m coming with this mindset. There is no referee. There is no crowd. There is no fans. There are no lights. There is nobody. Two men go in and one comes out. That’s all I have on my mind going into this fight. I’m better than I’ve ever been right now. It’s going to be a good night for me in my hometown.”

On how he matches up with Pereira: “Unfortunately for him, he’s fighting me on Saturday night. He’s fighting a guy that has a gas tank. He’s fighting the guy who has the experience. He’s fighting a guy who’s healthy with a completely hydrated brain. He’s fighting this guy that’s just cultivating and storing this energy getting ready for battle. I don’t know what his plan is, but it doesn’t matter to me. I’m ready for everything that he’s bringing. I’m ready. I’m prepared. I’ve trained. I bring the real true warrior mentality in the cage.”

On his plan for the fight: “Come Saturday night, Michel Pereira will have to learn the valuable lesson that he has to learn. For I have learned my lessons. I have taken the wisdom with me and I have it in my back pocket. I know what I’m doing. I’m on weight. I’m ready to go. No injuries and healthy. Ready to die in that cage if I have to. Truly not fearful of death. I know when I step into that Octagon, I’m going to let it go. I’m going to unload the clips. Michel Pereira will not be standing up. He will be on the ground in a pool of blood.”