UFC 107 Confirmed For Memphis, BJ Penn Versus Diego Sanchez to Headline

UFC lightweight champion “Prodigy” BJ Penn (14-5-1) will defend his title from “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (21-2) at UFC 107 at the FedExForum in Memphis December 12, the UFC officially announced Tuesday.

“In this sport it sometimes takes years for fighters to find the weight class where they’re at their best,” UFC President Dana White said in a statement at UFC.com Tuesday.  “I don’t think there’s any question that BJ Penn and Diego Sanchez have finally found their homes at 155 pounds, making the UFC 107 main event a fight between the best Penn and Sanchez we’ve ever seen.  BJ hasn’t lost in this weight class in years, and Diego has looked unstoppable in his lightweight fights, and when these two meet in the center of the Octagon, it’s going to make our first trip to Memphis one fight fans will never forget.”

“I can’t wait to defend the title,” Penn told UFC.com. “I know what kind of competitor Diego Sanchez is and I am training very hard. This will be a good test.”

“I’ve always wanted to face the best,” Sanchez said.  “I’ve worked so hard for this and now I finally have a shot at the title. I’m training like I’ve never trained before and I expect an all-out war.”

Also officially confirmed Tuesday, Fighters.com third-ranked heavyweight Frank Mir (12-4) will fight Cheick Kongo (14-5-1) and second-ranked welterweight “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (16-4) and fifth-ranked Paulo Thiago (7-1) will matchup.

Missing from the card, of course, is perhaps the primary reason Zuffa lobbied so vigorously for Tennessee to sanction MMA: now-retired fifth-ranked light heavyweight “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7).

It’s the UFC’s second visit to the state after debuting in Nashville April 1 with UFC Fight Night 18.