Could Pearson vs. Sanchez be Griffin vs. Bonnar-esque? At least one participant thinks so

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – UFC lightweights Ross Pearson and Diego Sanchez have watched each other’s careers, but from a different distance.

For Pearson, who returns to the cage following an injury layoff, his introduction to Sanchez was in 2009 at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, where the inaugural “TUF” winner fought Clay Guida. The fight made quite an impression.

“That was like, ‘S–t, these guys are for real,’” said Pearson, who that night won the Season 9 reality-show tourney and kicked off his octagon career. “This is what I worked to, and finally, I’m here.”

For Sanchez, the acquaintance is more recent. Pearson was the fighter presented by the UFC after he requested to fight somebody, or anybody, on his home soil three months after a lackluster decision loss to Myles Jury at UFC 171.

Wanting to shake off the doldrums of his setback, which he claims was aided by food poisoning, and fight in front of a hometown crowd in Albuquerque, Sanchez accepted Pearson and started watching tape. Recently, that’s included the British fighter’s workouts posted on Instagram.

“He’s buff and stuff, but that ain’t going to get his lungs strong,” Sanchez said. “He’s going to need some EPO to keep up with me in the ring, because I’m in the best shape of my life.”

Pearson (15-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and Sanchez (24-7 MMA, 13-7 UFC) meet on the FOX Sports 1-televised main card of UFC Fight Night 42, which takes place at Albuquerque’s Tingley Coliseum.

Sanchez firmly believes a title shot is within his grasp despite back-to-back losses and a career that’s seesawed several times. He thinks fans will be convinced of his worthiness when No. 1 contender Gilbert Melendez fights Anthony Pettis at year’s end, calling his gutsy, if unsuccessful performance an “explanation” of his capability.

“I believe [Melendez is] going to beat Anthony Pettis and become the champion,” Sanchez said. “I firmly believe that.”

Pearson, of course, is looking at the same opportunity and thinks Sanchez is a chance to elevate his status after a fight this past fall against Melvin Guillard ended in a no-contest and a subsequent rematch was canceled due a knee injury.

“I want it to be a Stephan Bonnar-Forrest Griffin fight,” he said. “I want it to be better than the Clay Guida fight, better than the Gilbert Melendez fight. I’m coming here to state my case in the UFC lightweight division.”

Sanchez, who’s fought more than his fair share of slugfest, welcomes that idea. How realistic such a display is is another matter.

“See for me, I’ve been in a lot of wars, and if Ross is able to keep up the pace and continue to fight that fight with me, bring it on,” he said. “But I don’t see it happening. I see him dying down; I see him getting tired.

“To be really honest, I think that the blueprint is just like the Matt Brown-Erick Silva fight. I see it going down just like that.”

Either fighter would benefit greatly from a fight like the recent UFC Fight Night 40 headliner, which drew raves from UFC President Dana White and countless MMA observers. Now, the pair need to meet to see if their expectations match up with reality.

For the latest on UFC Fight Night 42, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.