Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Fight fans witnessed yet another illegal knee disqualification last night (Sat., Feb. 15, 2020) at UFC Fight Night 167 live on ESPN+ from inside Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, as Michel Pereira landed an illegal knee to a downed Diego Sanchez in the welterweight co-main event.
This fight was weird from the opening bell as fight fans saw an unexpectedly calm Pereira pick his shots against a nearly non-existent Sanchez, who backed himself into the cage and refused to close the gap. Pereira had Sanchez in real trouble in the third round along the cage, but inadvertently landed an illegal knee that not only rocked Sanchez’s head but also split a nasty cut open. Sanchez was given a few minutes to recover before eventually telling the referee and cageside doctor that he couldn’t see out of his left eye. The fight was ruled a disqualification and “Nightmare” walked away with win.
Check out the illegal shot above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.
As if this fight couldn’t take any more awkward turns Sanchez ends up winning a bout that he was losing every second of. Pereira showed a much more calculated offensive approach in this co-main event fight, but he ultimately had a lapse of concentration when it mattered most. This just wasn’t the best of starts for either fighter here in 2020.
For complete UFC Rio Rancho results and coverage click here.