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Shortly after his submission victory over Ben Askren in the UFC Singapore main event, longtime welterweight grappler, Demian Maia, called for a Diego Sanchez fight, one “The Nightmare” accepted by way of social media post.
That stands in contrast to claims made by veteran striker Dave Leduc, contacted by Sanchez, 37, in hopes of securing a Lethwei fight overseas. If you’re unfamiliar with the “Art of Nine Limbs,” think bare-knuckle boxing with headbutts.
“I got a message from Diego Sanchez the other day,” Leduc said on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Show (transcript by BJPenn.com). “He said, ‘Dave, I’m not in the UFC anymore’. Whoops, maybe I shouldn’t have [said] that. [Sanchez] said, ‘I’m out of my contract, do you want to get me a Lethwei fight in WLC?’”
Sanchez (29-12) has been with UFC since graduating the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) back in April 2005. “The Nightmare” was last seen at UFC 239 last July, losing to Michael Chiesa by way of unanimous decision.
No word yet from Sanchez of UFC on the state of his current (or former?) contract.