So no victory laps yet.

“Life is a blessing, so I’m living it,” said Sanchez between workouts in Albuquerque. “Fighting ain’t easy, though.”

It’s not, but there are those select few that have a knack for it, and Sanchez is one of those folks, even at the age of 37. Twenty-nine fights into his UFC career, the last man standing from season one of The Ultimate Fighter (which he won) has gotten a second wind, as he’s beaten Craig White and Mickey Gall in back-to-back fights leading up to the Chiesa bout.

And though the topic of today’s conversation is his 2009 bout with Guida, everything always comes back to the present for Sanchez, and he wants to make a point that he’s not the same man he was when he clashed with “The Carpenter” a decade ago.

“It’s hard to explain to people,” he said. “The thing is, you find yourself as a fighter with the experience that you have throughout your career, and that makes the man that stands in front of another man come fight day. So for me, the man that stood in front of Clay Guida was a different man that’s gonna stand in front of Michael Chiesa. A completely different man, a completely different mindset.”

But it’s fights like the ones with Guida that made Sanchez who he is.

A little over four years removed from beating Kenny Florian to win The Ultimate Fighter at middleweight, Sanchez began his post-TUF career at 170 pounds and proceeded to win seven of nine bouts, with the only losses coming against Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch. In 2009, Sanchez moved to lightweight and defeated Joe Stevenson in a Fight of the Night battle, and then it was time to face Guida. 

There was no fight wing in the UFC Hall of Fame at that point, but if there was, fans would likely have predicted that Sanchez-Guida had the potential to get the call for induction. And while you might assume that ultimately getting that call would prompt Sanchez to go back and watch those 15 minutes again, he says he doesn’t need to.

“I don’t need to go back and watch it. I have every second of that fight ingrained in my memory. I remember it like it was yesterday. And that was hell. I remember in between the first and second rounds, being like, ‘Damn, man, this was a hard weight cut and I’m feeling this.’ (Laughs) And that weight cut was what I was feeling in between rounds. People don’t know, but that last pound when it came to making weight for Guida-Sanchez, I prayed that last pound off. Even at 27 years old, 155 was an incredibly hard weight cut for me.”

Looking back, it was shocking that the fight even made it to the second round after Sanchez crushed Guida with a flush head kick.

“Oh my goodness,” laughed Guida. “We trained to step away from the head kick and I walked right into it. I saw a flash and my wrestling kicked in and I shot for a takedown. And that was early in the fight. I was on autopilot. It was pure instinct and pure adrenalin in that fight.”

Sanchez wasn’t surprised that Guida got up and got back into the fight, though.

“I wasn’t,” he said. “I know Clay and I knew that this man had a vision and a lot of heart, and it didn’t surprise me. Clay’s one of the toughest human beings I’ve ever crossed paths with in my life and that’s why that fight was so classically epic.”

And there are more fights to come, and maybe even more Hall of Fame speeches to give by the “Nightmare.”

“I know I belong in the Hall of Fame,” said Sanchez. “That fight’s going in the Hall of Fame, I believe the fight with Gilbert Melendez will go in the Hall of Fame, and some of my fights to come will go into the Hall of Fame, along with myself to show what this journey of mixed martial arts represents. It’s just a matter of time.”

Robbie Lawler?

“Old. But a legend.”

Ben Askren?

“Weirdo.”

Tyron Woodley?

“Old. But a legend.”

Darren Till?

“Weirdo.”

It seems we’re picking up a pattern here, so I throw out the name Rafael dos Santos, who Edwards had recently called out on social media. Edwards laughs.

“The little man!”

In print, Edwards assessments of potential opponents might come across as mean-spirited or braggadocious, but the easygoing Englishman is just having some fun. He’s playfully letting his division know he’s ready for the next step in his career, and he fears no one. Asked why RDA was on his radar, and his response exudes certainty.

“He had a good win [against Kevin Lee]. I was watching it. I feel that’s the fight to make. He was coming off two losses and then he got a win. He’s a former world champion, and I’m trying to become a world champion. So I think going out there and beating him up will make a statement for contention of the world title. That would be a good name to add on to my list.”

It’s a list that continues to grow. His seven consecutive wins in the welterweight division is surpassed only by the current champion, Kamaru Usman. That’s more than Colby Covington, way more than Till, and even more than the previous champ Woodley; all fighters currently ranked above him. It certainly reads like résumé that would warrant a big fight next.

“You’d think so. You’d think so, right?” Edwards laughs, but this time he’s not joking.

“A seven-fight win streak in the welterweight division, which I consider one of the hardest divisions in MMA…We’ll see. I feel I deserve a Top 5 opponent next if not a title shot. There’s not many men on a seven-fight win streak that’s not getting a title shot. You know what I mean? Let’s see what they come with.”

It’s no small coincidence that Edwards’ last loss was to Usman back in 2015. “Rocky” certainly has not forgotten this fact.

“That’s the one I want to fight. How perfect would the story be for me? Lost to him three years ago, go undefeated [since] and then beat him for the world title? That would be like icing on the cake. So I hope he’s still got the world title [when I get my title shot].”

As he sees it, the fight would play out differently this time.

“As far as improvement, I feel I’ve improved leaps and bounds compared to how far he’s improved. I’m like a totally different fighter, different person from back then. I would love to go in there now and dethrone him.”

Still, Edwards’ hit list doesn’t stop with the champ. There’s still the matter of kerfuffle with Jorge Masvidal backstage at last March’s UFC London event. Edwards claims that Masvidal has turned down a chance to settle it once and for all on fight night.

“That’s what I heard,” he explains. “That was the fight to make. Everyone wanted it. I wanted it. But somehow they gave Askren the fight. Ben Askren who has one fight in a year? It’s a crazy thing, but it is what it is.”

Still, if it feels like there’s still a certain inevitability to the showdown, Edwards agrees with you.

“It’s gonna happen. It’s either gonna be that we fight in the street or we fight in the Octagon, but we’re gonna fight.”

Still, if it feels like there’s still a certain inevitability to the showdown, Edwards agrees with you.

“It’s gonna happen. It’s either gonna be that we fight in the street or we fight in the Octagon, but we’re gonna fight.”

“That would be history in the making”

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Spend any amount of time around Edwards, and it quickly becomes clear what drives him: his infectious love of the game, and his unassailable determination to dominate it. It runs in his blood, and as such, is a family affair. His brother Fabian is undefeated in Bellator, and he beams with pride when discussing him.

“He’s on a great path, and he will 100% capture that Bellator middleweight title. It’s my turn to get the UFC belt.”

So standing on parallel tracks of domination, do they ever discuss being champions at the same time?

“That would be the perfect story to walk off into the sunset, two brothers from the UK. There’s not much in the UK that can do that. Two brothers from the same mom and dad to win the biggest titles in combat sports…that’s like a movie!”

Indeed, a story like that has all the trappings of a great Hollywood feature, particularly given the divergent path he and his brother might have taken as troubled youths in Birmingham. Now, they find themselves with the potential to be named among Bisping, Manuwa and Pickett as some of Britain’s greatest mixed martial artists. It’s another movie-type ending Edwards can envision.

“One day I wish to leave a bigger legacy for myself. Especially in the UK. Coming where I come from in the Uk, and to do what I’m doing, it’s unheard of. That’s my thing, to go out there and leave a bigger name fpr the people coming up  in the same situation I came up in. To see that they can achieve so much in life.”

Steve Latrell is a writer and producer for UFC.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheUFSteve

That has always been the mindset for No. 1 featherweight contender Alexander Volkanovski. But just hours after the biggest win of his mixed martial arts career at UFC 237, that mentality was put to the test.

Volkanovski dominated long-time featherweight king Jose Aldo winning a unanimous decision in convincing fashion. Before “The Great” was able to return to Sydney he started experiencing discomfort and swelling in one of his feet. Volkanovski was diagnosed with a blood infection that left him hospitalized for days in Chile.

On top of that, the news broke out that Frankie Edgar, not Volkanovski would be receiving the next crack at featherweight champion Max Holloway’s title.

And while he was initially frustrated, that mental fortitude and optimistic personality transformed disappointment into something that Volkanovski has taken advantage of his whole life: Opportunity.

“I want the world to know that I’m staying ready and staying fit,” Volkanovski said. “I’m pretty much in a full camp right now and I will be Octagon side in Edmonton ready to go if something should happen to Max or Frankie.”

It’s becoming more common for UFC to book an alternate to show up on weight for title fights, like when Kamaru Usman made the welterweight championship weight at UFC 228 in case former champ Tyron Woodley or challenger Darren Till missed weight.

But Volkanovski hasn’t been asked to be an alternate. He’s just sees UFC 240 as an opportunity and he is going to take advantage of it if it presents itself.

“Sometimes you got to do s*** yourself and take matters into your own hands,” Volkanovski said. “I’m not going to let an opportunity slip through my hands. I’m not scared of anyone in the division. I want everyone and anyone.”

While compiling a 20-1 record and seven fight win-streak, Volkanovski has closely kept his eye on both Edgar and Holloway. And if both Edgar and Holloway end-up fighting in Canada on July 27 Volkanovski will be there eagerly watching.

“I don’t want them to get hurt. I’ll be there to fight but if now I want them to put on one hell of show,” Volkanovski said. “If Frankie gives Max trouble then I’m going to be an absolute nightmare for Max. I’m a dangerous man against that type of pressure and volume. I’m too well-rounded and too fit for a guy to come at me like that. It will be interesting to see what happens.”

Volkanovski pointed to his fight with Aldo as evidence. And he definitely passed the championship litmus test with his performance.

“I completely cancelled out his game,” Volkanovski said. “I fought a really smart fight. Obviously some people were sour that I didn’t get a finish but there are also plenty of people that understand the game and saw me shutdown the greatest featherweight of all-time. Not even Max was able to do that.”

As for Volkanovski’s infection, he’s completely been cleared and is off antibiotics. He has also jumped right back into camp and is fully participating in drills. While it isn’t ideal to suffer from an infection or an ailment, Volkanovski believes it might be a blessing in disguise.

“Let’s just say I step in at UFC 240 and I win the belt,” Volkanovski said. “I’d still want to take that belt and defend it on the next card in Australia. I’m not going to be like most of these champions and ignore challengers. I want to build my legacy by defending the belt regularly.”

The idea of defending a championship is one of the things that drive Volkanovski the most. The other is his beautiful family. Volkanovski is focused on providing for his wife Emma and two young daughters Ariana and Airlie.

“I have a family to feed. Winning is what is going to make me successful and bring money to the table for my family,” Volkanovski said. “That’s my legacy. Being a great father and husband.”

No matter who ends up battling for the 145-lb crown at UFC 240, Volkanovski is brimming with confidence. He has continued to build incredible momentum fueled by impressive victories over featherweight contenders Darren Elkins, Chad Mendes and now Aldo.

Volkanovski isn’t concerned with strapping his gloves up at UFC 240 or who will ultimately be standing across the Octagon from him when he fights for the title. All he needs is the opportunity and once it’s granted it will be his time to reign.

“I will be the champion by the end of the year,” Volkanovski said. “I will not be denied. I’m taking that belt and I’m bring another belt to Australia. Just watch me.”

Gavin Porter is a digital producer and writer for UFC.com, follow him on Twitter at @PorterUFCNews