Diego Sanchez Believes He Has One More UFC Title Run In Him

36-year old Diego Sanchez looks to rebound his UFC career this Saturday when he takes on Craig White in the preliminary opener. Sanchez, who is coming off two straight knockout losses spoke with UFC.COM about his desire to have one more championship run in his MMA career.

I’m chasing after my destiny to become the UFC champion. I’m looking to do a Michael Bisping story, but it’s the Diego Sanchez story and it ends differently than the Michael Bisping story because it ends with that belt around my waist and it ends with me giving all the glory to God for all the trials and tribulations (I’ve been through).

You’d have to travel back to UFC 107 to find the last time Sanchez challenged for UFC gold when he took on BJ Penn for the lightweight championship back in 2009. On that night, Penn busted Sanchez open with a head kick that was so bloody it led to a referee stoppage. Sanchez believes that he is a much more experienced fighter these days.

I’m still durable. I’m still energized and I am 100 times the fighter than I was at UFC 107 when I stepped into the cage with BJ Penn,” he added. “It felt good to look back and see the 27-year-old Diego and now the 36-year-old Diego and think about how they would match up. This 36-year-old Diego would finish the 27-year-old Diego.

I’m more confident than ever. My mind is right. I’ve had the time to assess my losses, all of my situations, where I’m at as a mixed martial artist at 36 and I feel like I’m in my prime. It’s 100 percent my time. I’m coming into this fight more confident than I have ever been.

You can watch Diego Sanchez versus Craig White this Saturday on Fight Pass.