Diego Sanchez to make UFC featherweight debut vs. Ricardo Lamas

Diego Sanchez, perhaps quite fittingly, is the only cast member from the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter who is still active in the UFC. Sanchez beat Kenny Florian in the middleweight tournament final, and just like Florian did in 2011, Diego is headed for his fourth weight class. Having teased this move for months, Sanchez has his first featherweight fight booked. UFC officials confirmed Sanchez will co-headline UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Gastelum in Monterrey, Mexico on November 21st against Ricardo Lamas.

Sanchez (25-7) hasn't fought since June 2014, when he fought and controversially defeated Ross Pearson by split decision despite being outstruck and knocked down once. One could argue that Sanchez's last 3 decision wins (against Pearson, Takanori Gomi, and Martin Kampmann) were all undeserved. Overall, Sanchez is 2-3 in his last 5, and his fight with Gilbert Melendez in October 2013 was viewed as the best of the year.

Lamas (15-4) is a former title challenger who has been a top 10 staple at featherweight since his upset win over Hatsu Hioki in 2012. "The Bully" lost his title fight vs. Jose Aldo in 2014, but bounced back with wins over Hacran Dias and Dennis Bermudez. Lamas' last fight was a main event against Chad Mendes in Virginia, where he suffered a brutal 1st round knockout loss in under 3 minutes.

UFC Fight Night in Monterrey, Mexico will air live on Fox Sports 1, with Kelvin Gastelum fighting Matt Brown in the main event. The card also doubles as the season finale for TUF Latin America 2.