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MMA

08th Sep 2018

UFC fighters kiss on stage

Bold move from Craig White

Darragh Murphy

Diego Sanchez has seen almost everything in his 16-year mixed martial arts career.

But he’s probably never had an opponent lean in for a kiss.

Sanchez will hope to avoid a third consecutive defeat when he meets Devon’s own Craig White on the preliminary card of UFC 228.

White has been given a second chance in the Octagon after stepping in on short notice to fight Neil Magny in Liverpool in May, a bout in which the Brit came up short.

But the Exmouth fighter is brimming with confidence against the only remaining cast member from The Ultimate Fighter 1 on the UFC roster.

At the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday night, White showed no signs of being intimidated by the notoriously intense Sanchez as he leaned in and kissed his opponent’s nose.

White anticipates an early finish when he gets the chance to test the chin of the 38-fight veteran this weekend.

“I can see it being an all-out war. From what Diego has said, he is going to steam-roll me, he is going to come out and be really aggressive and take it to me,” White told Devon Live.

“I am all for that – I love fighting like that. I have said it enough times, but I love punching people, I love being punched and I do fighting because I love it.

“I don’t think this fight will go outside the first round, and I certainly don’t think it will go the distance. I don’t think either of us want it to go the distance – we want to go out there and put it on the line.

“Finishes make for entertaining fights, whether it is on the feet or on the ground. Whichever way it goes, I am confident of getting the win.”