UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Emmanuel Sanchez checked a number of boxes with his Bellator 252 unanimous decision victory over Daniel Weichel on Thursday.
Among them, Sanchez picked up a victory in his first fight since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He also took one step closer to $1 million by advancing to the semifinal round of the Bellator featherweight grand prix and earned a shot at champion Patricio Freire in the semifinals.
But above both of those marks, Sanchez is most pleased to avenge his 2016 split decision loss to Weichel.
“Getting that win back (feels the best),” Sanchez told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “He taught me a very valuable lesson back in 2016, the 25-year-old me. I thought that was the best me. The arrow has to be pulled back before it can be shot forward. I’m very glad that I got that victory back. I’m glad that I even lost that fight back then, because it wouldn’t have put me into this position I’m in now and made me the fighter that I am now. What’s sweeter is getting that victory back and advancing to the semifinal.”
Sanchez, 30, has won seven of eight fights since his 2016 loss to Weichel. His lone loss in that stretch came against titleholder Freire in a bout in which he went the distance. Now racking up wins, Sanchez thinks he’s in the prime of his career.
“You learn and grow in each fight,” Sanchez said. “Obviously with training, you’re learning and growing every day and picking up new things. But I’m not trying to kill my training partners and put them in the hospital – it’s that I’m trying to do that to my opponents. I know what they’re trying to do to me, too. Knowing that I have a guy who’s trying to take my head off, and he couldn’t, he couldn’t even touch me, that’s what’s helped me grow and learn today.”
According to Sanchez, when he steps into the cage to rematch “Pitbull,” improvement won’t be exclusive to just him. Sanchez tipped his cap to Freire when he admitted the champion has improved, too, since their November 2018 meeting.
“I believe (he’s improved),” Freire said. “I think he’s got the same hunger, maybe. It’s harder when you’re on top being the most dominant champion – and you’re the champ-champ, too. So it’s another weight class with who knows what’s going on at lightweight.”
Bellator 252 took place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card aired on CBS Sports Network/DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Emmanuel Sanchez: Bellator 252 win over Daniel Weichel shows how far I’ve come