Big news for Irish UFC fans with Antrim native Norman Parke (4-0-1) announced to fight Mexican Diego Sanchez (25-7-0) at UFC 180 in November.
Parke finished Japanese fighter Naoyuki Kotani in the second round of their clash at UFC Fight Night Dublin last time out and he has been rewarded with a clash with big name, Diego Sanchez.
This is a huge event for Parke on November 15, not only because of his opponent, but also because it is the first ever UFC event in Mexico and it is sure to be a big pay-per-view seller.
Diego Sanchez won the original series of The Ultimate Fighter, which was the series that put the UFC on the map with a fantastic light-heavyweight bout between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar.
Sanchez has been around the block in the UFC but has failed to ever make it to the top, losing his only title shot to the now retired BJ Penn. However, he remains a popular fighter in the UFC and will most certainly be the toughest test of Parke’s young UFC career so far.
UFC 180 in Mexico already has a stacked card with a heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum as well as an exciting welterweight bout between Jake Ellenberger and Kelvin Gastelum.
Just a wee bit of background on Mr Sanchez; he was on the receiving end of one of the worst cuts in UFC history during a fight with BJ Penn, just have a look below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV_KyErDfZM
Video via dissbeater.
