Diego Sanchez vs. Ross Pearson Added to UFC Fight Night 42 in Albuquerque

A pair of former The Ultimate Fighter winners will square off at UFC Fight Night 42 in Albuquerque. UFC officials announced on Friday that Diego Sanchez vs. Ross Pearson has been added to the June 7 fight card.

Sanchez (24-7) returned to the lightweight division in 2013 with mixed results. He defeated Takanori Gomi by split decision in March 2013. He came up on the losing end of a Fight of the Night performance against Gilbert Melendez at UFC 166 and was soundly defeated my Myles Jury in his last outing on March 15. The inaugural TUF winner hopes to stay relevant with a win over Pearson.

After a brief stint in the featherweight division, Pearson (15-6, 1 NC) returned to the 155-pound weight class in December 2012. The Ultimate Fighter 9 winner reeled off two impressive technical knockout victories over George Sotiropoulos and Ryan Couture. The 29-year-old last fought on Oct. 26, 2013, against Melvin Guillard. The fight was ruled a No Contest when Pearson was deemed unable to continue after receiving a cut from an illegal knee.

UFC Fight Night 42: Henderson vs. Khabilov takes place at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque on June 7. Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson faces Sambo specialist Rustam Khabilov in the card’s main event.

According to Sanchez, his fight with Pearson will serve as the night’s co-main event.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!! @DiegoSanchezUFC will fight @RossTheRealDeal as the co main event in ALBUQUERQUE 6/7 on @FOXSports1 #UFN43 retweet

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 28, 2014