Don’t expect Emmanuel Sanchez to talk any trash about the man he has to defeat in order to claim Bellator’s featherweight belt. “Pioneer” and “legend” are words Sanchez uses to describe Patricio Freire , whom he meets in the headlining bout of Bellator 209 on Nov. 15. Asked to break down the matchup, Sanchez doesn’t point out a single negative in the champ’s game. From Freire’s black belt in jiu-jitsu or the great striking that can “put people’s lights out,” Sanchez says simply that Freire is an “overall amazing fighter.” Sanchez (17-3 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) refuses to treat Freire (27-4 MMA, 15-4 BMMA) lightly. He’s “in no way, shape or form” looking past him, or believing it’s going to be as simple as going out there and smoking him.
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