🔥KnuckleMania 3 Announcement🔥 New Mexico’s
very own, Diego Sanchez will face Austin Trout at #KM3
on Fri. Feb 17th! pic.twitter.com/WApwJ8pBNF— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc)
January 10, 2023
Ex-UFC lightweight title challenger Diego
Sanchez will make his first foray into the bare-knuckle realm
when he faces former boxing champ Austin Trout on Feb. 17.
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BKFC announced the matchup will take place in Albuquerque, N.M., as
part of the promotion’s Knucklemania 3 event at Tingley Coliseum.
The bout was
first reported in late November, but it was not officially
confirmed until Tuesday due to initial concerns from the New Mexico
State Commission regarding Sanchez’s health. The bout was approved
at a hearing on Tuesday. Sanchez vs. Trout is expected to serve as
the co-headliner at BKFC Knucklemania 3.
The 41-year-old Sanchez appeared on Season 1 of “The Ultimate
Fighter” and went 19-13 over a 32-bout stint with the Las
Vegas-based promotion that ended in 2020. He was
released from the UFC in 2021 after withdrawing from a proposed
clash against former training partner Donald
Cerrone at UFC on ESPN 24. The Albuquerque native last fought
in March 2022, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Kevin Lee at
Eagle FC 46.
Trout, a multi-time boxing champion, will also be making his BKFC
debut. The 37-year-old Las Cruces, N.M., native owns a 36-5-1
career mark in professional boxing and has squared off against the
likes of Canelo Alvarez, Jermell Charlo, Jermall Charlo and Miguel
Cotto during his tenure. His last fight came on Dec. 9.