Tateki Matsuda will move down the scale for his second UFC appearance. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Tateki Matsuda will get to compete on home soil for his sophomore Octagon outing, as the Boston-based fighter is set to take on Joby Sanchez at UFC Fight Night “McGregor vs. Siver.”
Matsuda will make the drop to 125 pounds following an unsuccessful bantamweight debut with the organization. The Japanese-born 28-year-old gave a good account of himself against Chris Beal on just one week’s notice in September but ultimately lost a unanimous decision. “Tech” had previously won back-to-back bouts against Robbie Leroux and Matt Doherty for the Rhode Island-based Classic Entertainment and Sports promotion.
Sanchez, 23, also stumbled in his UFC debut, suffering the first loss of his professional career in an Aug. 23 decision against Wilson Reis. The Jackson-Wink MMA product fought on short notice as well, stepping into the Octagon just two weeks after recording a stoppage of Antonio Banuelos at Tachi Palace Fights 20.