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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Back in MMA’s formative days, Diego Sanchez was the face of the sport in Albuquerque. And the fiery Del Norte graduate remains immensely popular, not just in his hometown but worldwide.

Friday, the UFC announced that Sanchez has been added to its June 7 “Fight Night” card scheduled for Tingley Coliseum. Sanchez (24-7) is matched against Englishman Ross Pearson (15-6) in a lightweight (155-pound) fight.

This would be Sanchez’s first fight in Albuquerque since May 2004, when he defeated Ray Elbe by first-round submission on a King of the Cage card.

Sanchez joins Jackson-Winkeljohn teammate John Dodson on the June 7 show. Dodson, a flyweight (125), is down for a rematch with John Moraga, whom he defeated by decision in 2010.

The main event matches veteran lightweight Benson Henderson against Dagestan native Rustam Khabilov, who trains at Jackson-Winkeljohn.

Sanchez will be seeking to rebound from what he acknowledges was one of the weakest performances of his career — a loss by unanimous decision to unbeaten Myles Jury in Dallas on March 15.

Albuquerque MMA fans likely can expect “The Dream” to defend his home turf on June 7 with his characteristic fight-of-the-night energy.