UFC on ESPN+ 25 results: Diego Sanchez wins by disqualification after Michel Pereira illegal knee

Diego Sanchez walked away with a win Saturday night.

The Season 1 winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” defeated Michel Pereira via disqualification in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN+ 25. It was an odd fight as expected, given Pereira’s tendency for theatrics.

Sanchez (30-12 MMA, 19-12 UFC) got beat up for the majority of the fight. He had some moments, but Pereira (23-11 MMA, 1-2 UFC) was the dominant force in the welterweight contest. The Brazilian stalked Sanchez for Rounds 1 and 2, backing Sanchez up against the cage while landing hard knees and front kicks to the body that seemed to hinder the veteran.

In the third round, things got worse for Sanchez. Pereira was able to get the muay Thai clinch and landed several hard knees on Sanchez that dropped him to the canvas. Hurt but still fighting, Sanchez took another knee from Pereira, but this time while being a down opponent, making Pereira’s strike illegal.

Knees to the body drop Sanchez followed by an illegal knee resulting in him winning via DQ #UFCRioRancho pic.twitter.com/33vd5duifj

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 16, 2020

The bout was immediately stopped. The doctor spoke to Sanchez, who seemed to be in his senses. Sanchez had a cut on his head and told the referee and doctor he was unable to see, making him ineligible to continue.

The 38-year-old Sanchez is now 3-1 in his last four trips to the octagon. Meanwhile, Pereira is now on a two-fight skid, having lost to Tristan Connelly in his last outing.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 25 results include:

• Diego Sanchez def. Michel Pereira via disqualification (illegal knee) – Round 3, 3:09
• Montana De La Rosa def. Mara Romero Borella via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Brok Weaver def. Kazula Vargas via disqualification (illegal Knee) – Round 1, 4:02
• Ray Borg def. Rogerio Bontorin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
• Lando Vannata def. Yancy Medeiros via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Daniel Rodriguez def. Tim Means via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:37
• John Dodson def. Nathaniel Wood via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:16
• Scott Holtzman def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Devin Clark def. Dequan Townsend via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
• Merab Dvalishvili def. Casey Kenney via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 29-28)
• Macy Chiasson def. Shanna Young via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
• Raulian Paiva def. Mark De La Rosa via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 4:42