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‘Ragin’ Al Iaquinta’s return is set, but the man standing across the Octagon on April 22 plans to turn his dream return into a nightmare.



Iaquinta will step into the Octagon for the first time in over two years on April 22 after a knee surgery and a contract dispute with the UFC kept him sidelined. Having now got over his troubles, Iaquinta will return to face a man who is coming off a big win back at UFC Fight Night 98 last November against highly touted Polish prospect, Marcin Held.



Ready for war in Nashville

Speaking earlier in the week to FloCombat, Sanchez talked about the upcoming fight with Iaquinta and said he expected to be all out warfare.



“I was fortunate enough to have a dinner with him [Iaquinta] in New York,” Sanchez said. “We have a mutual sponsorship so I met the guy. He’s a warrior, he’s a tough dude and he has a lot of heart. I can definitely see the holes in his mindset and I look to portray those holes in his mixed martial arts game. This fight is a big fight and his last victory was over Jorge Masvidal, who is a warrior, who is climbing through the welterweight ranking system. So, I just feel that me and Al, we’re are going to throw down.



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“I wanted to do it in New York, [but] they offered me to do it two weeks later in Nashville. Maybe they know I’m going to come with the hardcore conditioning and the hardcore pace? Maybe they didn’t want Al’s nerves to get to him in New York? I don’t know.”



I was the wrong man

While expecting a good fight, Sanchez said Iaquinta should never had signed the contract to return against him and that he’d be regretting it the second the cage door shut and their eyes meet.



“I’m coming ready and I am the wrong comeback fight for anybody in the game because I have been so consistency, my reflexes are sharp, I feel natural in there—I have zero cage rust,” Sanchez said. “When I get in that cage and they lock that door, I’m at home and I’m ready. When Al gets in there with me he’s going to feel the pressure, he’s going to see a real true lion standing in front of him there. A real true lion that’s not going to back up.



“Trust me, it’s going to be my night and hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and I know who I am as a fighter is what’s going to get me that victory on April 22.”