Diego Sanchez Welcomes Marcin Held to UFC at Fight Night 98
The big news in the MMA world last week was that former title Rory MacDonald had left the UFC and signed with Bellator. Under the radar and just as important, is that former Bellator Lightweight title challenger Marcin Held (22-4) has signed with the UFC; and will make his debut November 5th against the original ultimate fighter Diego Sanchez (26-9).
During his time in Bellator Held, Poland’s top lightweight, went (11-3), with 7 submission wins. Held ended his Bellator run at Bellator 155 with a unanimous decision win over Dave Jansen rebounding from a unanimous decision loss to then champion Will Brooks. Held has 12 of 16 stoppage wins via submission and is renowned as a leg lock specialist.
Sanchez is a staple of the UFC, who has fought in 4 different weight-classes, and challenged for the UFC Lightweight title in 2009. Sanchez is 2-2 in his last 4 with decision wins over Ross Pearson and Jim Miller, a decision loss in his lone trip to 145 lbs. against Ricardo Lamas, and is coming off a UFC 200 TKO loss to Joe Lauzon. Sanchez has 15 finishes with 9 submissions.
Also newly added to the card is a Welterweight bout with number 5 ranked contender Kelvin Gastelum (12-2) against Jorge “Gambred” Masvidal (30-11). Gastelum the TUF 17 winner, is 2-2 in his last 4, coming off a unanimous decision win over former champion Johny Hendricks. Masvidal is 2-2 since moving up to 170 lbs.. Masvidal started off with a knock out of Cezar Ferreira, then lost consecutive split decisions to Benson Henderson and Lorenz Larkin, and is now coming off a unanimous decision win over Ross Pearson.
UFC Fight Night 98 takes place November 5th in Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Mexico; headlined by former UFC Lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Tony Ferguson, who’s on 8 fight win streak.
LW: Rafael Dos Anjos (25-8) vs. Tony Ferguson (21-3)
SWS: Alexa Grasso (8-0) vs. Heather Clark (7-5)
LW: Beneil Dariush (13-2) vs. Rashid Magomdeov (19-1)
LW: Beneil Dariush (13-2) vs. Rashid Magomedov (19-1)
LW: Marcin Held (22-4) vs. Diego Sanchez (26-9)
WW: Kelvin Gastelum (12-2) vs. Jorge Masvidal (30-11)
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