A pair of former UFC notables are expected to face each other in their first post-octagon action.
Former UFC title challengers Kevin Lee and Diego Sanchez have verbally agreed to meet in a 165-pound matchup on March 11 at an Eagle FC event. Lee first announced the fight on Instagram but later deleted the post. Sanchez then acknowledged the matchup via social media, as well.
A person with knowledge of the situation subsequently confirmed to MMA Junkie that verbal agreements are in place for the contest but that bout agreements have not yet been finalized. That person requested anonymity because the promotion has not yet made an official announcement.
Both Lee (18-7) and Sanchez (30-13) will be looking to get back in the win column after being released by the UFC earlier this year.
Lee, whose signing with Eagle FC was announced last week, was released by the UFC last month after seven years and 18 appearances with the promotion. Lee, 29, competed for the UFC interim lightweight title back in October 2017 but lost by third-round submission to Tony Ferguson at UFC 216. The loss snapped a five-fight winning streak for Lee, who closed out his UFC tenure by losing five of his final seven fights. Lee’s last victory came in November 2019 when he knocked out Gregor Gillespie with a vicious head kick at UFC 244.
Sanchez, one of two Season 1 winners of “The Ultimate Fighter,” spent 15 years with the UFC before he was unceremoniously released following drama between promotion officials and his former coach, Joshua Fabia. Sanchez, who competed for the UFC lightweight title in in 2009, last fought in September 2020, dropping a unanimous decision to Jake Matthews at UFC 253.
Sanchez previously teased the possibility of competing in bare-knuckle boxing for BKFC. He recently was hospitalized with a severe case of COVID-19.