According to Diego Sanchez, his next opponent will be Japanese lightweight Takanori Gomi, confirming rumours that first surfaced last month that the two will face each other at UFC on Fuel 8 in Japan on March 3, 2013.
Sanchez tweeted the news Wednesday night:
The news is out SO HERE HAS IT I WILL BE FIGHTING GOMI IN JAPAN…. this is a dream of mine coming up during the pride days #dominate #yes
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) December 13, 2012
The match will be a lightweight contest, the first time Sanchez has fought at that weight since losing to BJ Penn for the 155-pound title in 2009.
Sanchez is coming off of a loss to Jake Ellenberger in February, in a fight which earned him a Fight of the Night bonus. Gomi has recently found winning form again, defeating Eiji Mitsuoka and Mac Danzig in his last outings after dropping two to Clay Guida and Nate Diaz.
Sanchez has flitted between lightweight and welterweight throughout his career, and even had a stint as a middleweight back in 2005.
Gomi, a veteran of the sport, was a star in the Japanese Pride promotion back in the day, winning the lightweight title there in 2005 and going on to defend it the following year.
UFC on Fuel 8 will mark the first time the UFC returns to Japan since its debut in the country with UFC 144 in February.
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