“I Didn’t Have a Scratch” – Diego Sanchez Looks Back at His Performance Against Michel Pereira

UFC veteran Diego Sanchez took to social media to praise his former opponent Michel Pereira and also expressed his desire to reduce head trauma. Sanchez and Pereira fought in February at UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Blachowicz 2. That match ended in a disqualification win for Sanchez.

Pereira was in control for most of the fight and was expected to take the win via decision. He was on his way to victory but was disqualified. In the third round, Pereira delivered an illegal knee to the head while Diego Sanchez was on the mat. This led to Sanchez winning the bout and making it three wins out of his last four fights.

Diego Sanchez is on the UFC 253 fight card, where he will take on Jake Matthews in what could be his retirement fight.

Pereira got back to winning ways at UFC Fight Night: Overeem Vs Sakai. He won the bout in the third round via submission. Following Michel Pereira’s victory, Sanchez took to social media and praised his performance but also used it as an opportunity to suggest that his win over Pereira was proof that his coach’s plans and tactics were working for him.

Diego Sanchez is confident in his approach

He posted a picture that said, “After witnessing the slaughter of professional striker Zelim Imadaev by Pereira maybe the movement and defense strategy I was using was working? Until the illegal blow, I didn’t have a scratch, bruise, or cut on my face! Minimizing head trauma facing a killer that heavily outsized me with a definitive age and speed, height, reach advantage.”

Diego Sanchez did not undermine Pereira’s performance. On his Instagram, Sanchez said:

“With all the current praise on my last opponent I’ll be the first to praise that he’s the fastest, strongest, most explosive man I have ever faced! I expected him to fade in the third due to the 5500ft altitude and extreme weight cut, he didn’t… up until the illegal knee to the head on the ground, I didn’t have a scratch, bruise or cut everything was blended, blocked and guided away to minimize head trauma!

“Me and my coach received a ton of hate after the fight, now they have wrote me and my guru @joshuafabiaknowbody off once again! 3 weeks out from fight island @jakematthewsufc is -500 on the odds we are ready to make some magic happen! this Aussie ain’t no @michelpereiraufc I am very relaxed and confident ready! tune In to @ufc 253 as I flip the table on the game, it is not chess when all the pieces are on the floor.”

Do you think Diego Sanchez will walk out with a victory at UFC 253?