Sanchez in talks with Bare Knuckle FC
Diego Sanchez is in talks with Bare Knuckle FC and could debut with the promotion in December if a deal is finalized, BKFC president Dave Feldman told MMA Fighting's Damon Martin on Thursday.
The former UFC fighter teased in an Instagram post Wednesday that he signed with the promotion.
The UFC released Sanchez in April over a medical dispute that involved his controversial ex-coach Joshua Fabia, with whom Sanchez cut ties the following month.
Should a deal between Sanchez and BKFC come to fruition, Feldman said the fighter would make his first bare-knuckle appearance on Dec. 3 in his hometown of Albuquerque.
BKFC has yet to pencil in an opponent for Sanchez, but Feldman mentioned UFC veterans Leonard Garcia and Isaac Vallie-Flagg as possibilities.
The BKFC boss added that finding a suitable foe will be a major factor in whether the promotion officially signs Sanchez, who turns 40 in December and has competed in combat sports since 2002.
"If I can find the right opponent that makes sense, that I think we're going to get eyeballs on this sport and on this fight, and no one's taking an extraordinary risk, then we'll get it done," Feldman said. "If that doesn't happen, then we won't get it done."
Sanchez, the winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 1," had been with the UFC since 2005.