After winning The Ultimate Fighter 23 as a light heavyweight, 28-year-old prospect Andrew Sanchez is dropping back down to his natural class at middleweight to fight Trevor Smith on Dec. 9 at UFC Fight Night 102. The UFC announced the match-up on Thursday.
Sanchez (8-2) won four consecutive bouts on TUF 23 to capture the season's crown, defeating Phil Hawes, Myron Dennis, and Eric Spicely on the show, then dominating Khalil Rountree to win via lopsided decision in the season finale. A former RFA middleweight champion, Sanchez has finished all but one of his professional victories via stoppage.