SANCHEZ FACING HEAVYWEIGHT CHALLENGE.

Byline: MIGUEL LOPEZ Staff Writer

Eddie Sanchez says he is prepared for the biggest fight of his mixed martial arts career Feb. 3, when he will step into the Octagon in Las Vegas to face arguably the best striker in mixed martial arts -- and in the UFC -- in Mirko ``Cro Cop'' Filipovic.

Sanchez sees the fight as challenge and not the impossible obstacle some people are making it to be. After all, he has already experienced a life-changing event that makes a ``big fight'' in the cage pale in comparison.

``I got into a pretty bad accident a few years ago,'' said Sanchez, who sees his upcoming fight as a test of his mental and physical strengths. ``I needed surgery and went to rehab after my car rolled over a few times, and I was thrown through the windshield.

``That whole experience was an eye opener. At that point, I had only a few months of jujitsu practice under me, but once I fully recovered, I trained my butt off.''

From that point, Eddie pressed to become the complete MMA fighter he envisioned for himself and improved his boxing and jujitsu skills. The experience of nearly losing his life guided Sanchez through training and, months later, to his goal of fighting in an MMA organization and most recently, to fighting in the UFC.

``It's always somebody's dream when they start training to end up fighting in the UFC,'' said Sanchez, who is 8-0. ``I learned a lot fighting in King of the Cage and in Total Combat and occasionally you saw a big crowd but nothing like the UFC.''

In September, Sanchez made his UFC debut as a substitute and instantly made an impact on the heavyweight division, knocking out Mario Neto 17 seconds into the second round at UFC 63.

``I still don't feel established. I believe that somebody that has fought once isn't a UFC fighter just yet,'' said Sanchez, 24. ``In my debut, I got pretty much thrown in there against Neto with two weeks notice. But right now, this is still a dream.''

Filipovic was recently signed by the UFC after a six-year stint with PRIDE FC. During his tenure there, he compiled a record of 18-4-2 and became known as one of the most feared strikers in all of mixed martial arts, defeating the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Mark Hunt, Josh Barnett, Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman.

Sanchez says he doesn't fear his foe and will walk in prepared for the tough task.

``Coming into UFC 67 with an 8-0 record, win or lose, I will fight my butt off,'' the Southern California native said. ``But, Mirko is a tough opponent, and if I do end up with a loss, it is better to lose to a good fighter like ``Cro Cop'' so I can measure myself to the heavyweight talent in the UFC. I don't plan on coming out with a loss, but if I do, I can build on it and look down the line on how to become a better fighter.''

The UFC heavyweight division has blossomed into one of the organization's best with the additions of Filipovic, Heath Herring, the stepping up of young talents such as Brandon Vera and Gabriel Gonzaga and the presence of veterans Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovksi anchoring the division.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) NETO

(2) SANCHEZ

Box: Etc.