Diego Sanchez is currently in talks with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship President Dave Feldman.
Diego Sanchez could be headed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), per BKFC President Dave Feldman.
Feldman revealed to MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin earlier this week that he and Sanchez are currently in talks over a fight ‘that makes sense’ for the UFC veteran.
“I went back and forth on the Diego thing because of all the problems he had with Josh Fabia and being released from the UFC and just making sure he was right,” Feldman said on Thursday. “I do think he’s right. I do think he’s nearing toward the end of his game ,but I think with bare-knuckle he doesn’t need to beat up all of his body. He’s going to work on his hands and I think if we match him appropriately with the right guy around the same experience level, around the same age group, I think we can come up with some really, really exciting matches that we actually have on the board downstairs.
“If we can make one of these matches, we’re absolutely going to do it, we will sign Diego Sanchez for that. Again, it’s all about who we’re matching him up against and making sure he’s not in over his head, he’s not in with a young lion. He’s in with someone that makes sense for him.”
Feldman threw Leonard Garcias and Isaac Vallie-Flaggs names into the mix but Sanchez would prefer to fight Joey Beltran, according to the BKFC head.
“I know Leonard Garcia wants to fight Diego Sanchez, that could be another good one,” Feldman revealed. “Isaac Vallie-Flagg, that could be another good one. I mean there’s a lot of really exciting matchups, some other former UFC legends, but Diego is Diego and he calls out Joey Beltran. He calls out someone who doesn’t make sense.”
Feldman is confident both he and Sanchez will reach a deal in the coming weeks and is targeting Dec. 3 for ‘The Nightmare’s’ BKFC debut in his home state of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“At the end of the day, if we find someone appropriate, and I think we’re going to, that’s going to mutually draw, we’ll sign him and we’ll get him in there. The targeted date is Dec. 3 in Albuquerque,” Feldman said.
“I think we’re going to get a deal done,” he added. “I had a good talk with Malki [Kawa] last night from First Round Management, and I think it looks like he’s going to be representing him. I think we’ll get something done.
“It’s not really a matter of getting it done. It’s a matter of picking the right opponent, and if I can find the right opponent that makes sense, that I think we’re going to get eyeballs on this sport and on this fight, and no one’s taking an extraordinary risk, then we’ll get it done. If that doesn’t happen, then we won’t get it done.”