Saunders wasn?t supposed to be Sato?s opponent at UFC Fight Night Fort Lauderdale, as that role was originally gonna be filled by Mike Perry.
?I was initially offered to fight Mike Perry, but it got switched about a week later,? Sato said after the event (via John Morgan & Matt Erickson of MMA Junkie).
Perry would go onto fight and defeat Alex Oliveira by unanimous decision on the same card, as a late replacement for the injured Li Jingliang.
Sato is still open for a bout against the man he was originally set to battle at UFC Fight Night Fort Lauderdale.
?The reason why I?m in the UFC is to fight the toughest fighters in the world, so I?m happy if some big names will be willing to fight me,? Sato said. ?I?m here to get better and better, so I?m willing to take any kind of challenges. I did look at his fight video, so I?m very interested in him. He?s a big name, too, so I don?t mind fighting him next.?
There is no word yet on when either fighter will step back into the Octagon, as both just competed less than a week ago.