Emmanuel Sanchez gets a second crack at Daniel Weichel as part of the Bellator featherweight grand prix. And that is by design.
After months of delays thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, Sanchez and Weichel get a second go-round this Thursday at Bellator 252. The pair first met in 2016, with Weichel winning a close split decision. This time around, they’ll have an extra two rounds, with all grand prix bouts following the opening round being five-round affairs.
Sancehz promised Tuesday that he’ll be “one and done at the Mohegan Sun” come Thursday night. And after his own bout, he’ll actually be pulling for featherweight champ Patricio Pitbull in the main event. Another fighter who owns a win over him.
“That’s the story I’m trying to write, so you’re taking the words and thoughts right out of my head and my mouth,” said the veteran fighter, speaking to Cageside Press during the Bellator 252 virtual media day. “When you do look at the bracket — and I love how the brackets set up, going back to that selection show — I chose the toughest side of the bracket. I didn’t anticipate the champion being on the same side as me, but I picked the toughest fight. A guy who already has a win over me in Daniel Weichel.”
With champ Pitbull selecting his own spot and ending up on the same side of the bracket as “The Matador,” “there’s two guys who have a win over me,” noted Sanchez. “So absolutely, I’m pulling for the champion, and I want him to win, because I want that victory back as well.”
Maybe it’s fate, when all is said and done. “Looking back at all this, obviously it wasn’t meant for me to beat Daniel Weichel in Kansas in 2016. It wasn’t meant for me to beat Patricio Pitbull in Israel in 2018,” suggested Sanchez. “But now here we are, and there’s a lot more on the line too with the stakes and the platform that we’re on. So this is something that I’m really looking to write, a great legendary story of a man who went and avenged his losses, and went on to win this featherweight grand prix.”
Watch the full Bellator 252 virtual media day press scrum with Emmanuel Sanchez above. The event takes place this Thursday, November 12 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, with the main card airing live on CBS Sports Network.
