Diego Sanchez is currently on a two-fight losing streak, having been knocked out by Matt Brown and Al Iaquinta in his last two bouts. Don’t think for a second that means he’s nearing the end of the road, however.

As Diego Sanchez gears up for his UFC 228 showdown with England’s Craig White, he feels like he’s in the prime of his fighting life. He also feels that a long-awaited UFC title win could be just around the corner.

“I’m chasing after my destiny to become the UFC champion,” Sanchez told E. Spencer Kyte of UFC.com, explaining that he draws inspiration from Michael Bisping’s late-career UFC title win. “I’m looking to do a Michael Bisping story, but it’s the Diego Sanchez story and it ends differently than the Michael Bisping story because it ends with that belt around my waist and it ends with me giving all the glory to God for all the trials and tribulations.”

“I’m still durable,” Sanchez continued. “I’m still energized and I am 100 times the fighter than I was at UFC 107 when I stepped into the cage with BJ Penn. It felt good to look back and see the 27-year-old Diego and now the 36-year-old Diego and think about how they would match up. This 36-year-old Diego would finish the 27-year-old Diego.

“I’m more confident than ever. My mind is right. I’ve had the time to assess my losses, all of my situations, where I’m at as a mixed martial artist at 36 and I feel like I’m in my prime. It’s 100 percent my time. I’m coming into this fight more confident than I have ever been.”

Do you think the 36-year-old Diego Sanchez can pull off a late-career UFC title win? Join the conversation in the comments section below.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 9/5/2018.