Diego Sanchez Continues To Call Out Nate Diaz After Controversial Win Over Ross Pearson At UFC Fight Night 42

Longtime UFC lightweight Diego Sanchez scored a very controversial win over Ross Pearson in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 42 from his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

After the split decision win which was largely deemed a robbery, “The Nightmare” met up with UFC on FOX for the above interview to discuss how the emptions of fighting in front of his friends and family affected his gameplan:

“The gameplan was to go in there and land some big kicks, get a takedown, and beat him up on the ground. That was the gameplan; it obviously went out the window, I got so excited, just feeling the chemistry with Ross. I wanted to knock him out; I wanted to give Albuquerque a knockout, and Ross is so tough, we both hit each other with good shots. It was a great fight.”

Sanchez indeed abandoned his perceived mat advantage over noted British striker Pearson, instead looking to stand and trade with “The Real Deal” even when conventional wisdom may have suggested otherwise.

Many who scored the fight gave it to Pearson, who appeared to land more shots despite Sanchez’ higher output. The hometown hero knew it was close, but was also confident that his forward pressure tipped the scales in his favor:

“I was confident that I won the fight. I knew that I had done enough. I felt like I was pushing the pressure, especially in the third. I put pressure on him, and I felt like I was the one the one who made the fight what it was. When it goes to the judges, you never know what’s going to happen, so I just had my fingers crossed and I was just praying and hoping that it went my way.”

Riding high on emotions, Sanchez called out for Nate Diaz, who was formerly ranked at No. 5 in the UFC lightweight division before he was removed for inactivity:

“I’m just so happy right now, and with that victory, I want to put a challenge out to Nick Diaz. Diaz-Diego. Let’s do this in Mexico. Stop being a crybaby, crying about not getting enough money, be a real fighter and fight because you love to fight. Fight me; see if you can hang with this!”

While Sanchez may on top of the world right now, it’s tough to deny that some very questionable judging hid his considerably declining skillset. Sanchez has been through many a war, and although Diaz has been asking for a big return fight and payday, he’ll probably be looking for a much bigger name than Sanchez.

After all, “Nightmare” is only 2-3 in his last five, and both wins were controversial judges’ decisions. Will Dana White listen to his fan favorite and give Diaz the money to fight Sanchez in Mexico?