Round 1- The UFC lightweight championship is underway as referee Herb Dean gets them in action. Diego comes forward on Penn but backs off. A right hand puts Diego down . Penn follows the right hand up with some heavy hands to the face. Sanchez rolls out but Penn jumps back on top and Sanchez survives. Diego looks hesitant now but rushes in with a knee. He misses but does get Penn against the fence. Penn grabs Sanchez head and forces him off. A head kick is blocked by Penn. Penn avoids another takedown attempt by Sanchez. Penn is content with a counter fight and tags Diego with a right hook. Sanchez gets popped with a right hand when he rushes in with a knee. Penn catches Sanchez again with about 10 seconds remaining. Unofficial scoring – Penn 10-9
Round 2- Penn touches Sanchez with a right hand. Penn begins to stalk Sanchez, but Sanchez grabs a takedown attempt and works for the takedown. He fails on the takedown and hits with a weak right hand. Penn hits Sanchez with a combination. An uppercut lands fluch on the chin of Penn but doesnt seem to faze him at all. Sanchez fakes a drop for the takedown, instead remains standing. Penn rushes in on Sanchez again and drops a low leg kick. Penn lands another right hand in his patient gameplan. A left hand by Sanchez misses. Sanchez grabs a takedown but cant convert. The round ends and Penn remains in control. Unofficial scoring – Penn 10-9
Round 3- Penn slaps a left hand on a rushing Sanchez. Sanchez grabs another leg of Penn’s but takes several elbows for his troubles. Penn balances on one leg while trying to escape the attempt. Sanchez remains constant by trying for the takedown. They break apart and dance around for awhile until Sanchez tries another single leg takedown. Penn defends again. Sanchez attempts a combination but misses with an uppercut. Penn hits with a knee to the body and then a right hand. Sanchez continues to try and grab a single leg takedown. The attempt once again fails and Penn dominates. Unofficial scoring – Penn 10-9
Round 4- Sanchez gets beat to the center of the octagon and gets hit with a left hand. Sanchez misses with a right hand and gets popped with a left. Sanchez finally hits with a wild right but gets nailed with a big right hook by Penn. Sanchez dives for the takedown and misses. Penn moves around with confidence and Sanchez looks deflated. Penn hits with a partial right hand and then shoots for the takedown. Penn drops an elbow on Sanchez as he attempts a takedown. Sanchez misses, seperates, and shoots again. This time, Sanchez grabs a double leg, but once again misses. Sanchez gets hit with another wild right hand as the bell sounds. Unofficial scoring – Penn 10-9
Round 5- Sanchez looks determined for the final round and Sanchez is jumping around. Penn has to defend once again with a single leg takedown. Sanchez grabs the leg, and drops down, and hits with a couple of uppercuts. A head kick is missed by Sanchez. Penn connects with a head kick and then grabs Sanchez and forces him against the fence. After they seperate, a cut is discovered on the forehead of Sanchez. The cut is too severe for him to continue; referee Herb Dean calls the fight.
OFFICIAL DECISION – Penn over Sanchez (2:37) 5th round TKO