TUF 18 Finale: Diego Sanchez Wants Winner of Nate Diaz vs. Gray Maynard III

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez is ready to make another run at the belt and he'd like to start with the winner of Nate Diaz vs. Gray Maynard III. 

The bout headlines the finale of season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter this Saturday and "The Dream" believes Maynard will be who settles the feud once and for all. 

"

Man I need a fight! Im pretty sure after nate and gray fight ill have a opponent. want @NateDiaz209 but it will prob be gray #nateknows

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 26, 2013

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His latest tweet from Tuesday afternoon is pretty interesting, considering just one month ago he was calling for a five-round scrap with a certain outspoken Stockton, California native.

"

Im thinking maybe nate diaz for the next fight would be a epic 5 rounder.

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) October 22, 2013

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Sanchez last competed at UFC 166 on October 19, putting together a 15-minute instant classic with former Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez. 

The bout was an easy choice for the pay-per-view event's "Fight of the Night" bonus and is on the short list for 2013's "Fight of the Year."

While the Greg Jackson's MMA product is just 3-4 in his past seven bouts, he is 3-2 overall at 155 pounds with his losses coming to top-tier competition in Melendez and BJ Penn, fighting the latter for the title at UFC 107 in December 2009. 

Meanwhile, Diaz and Maynard both could desperately use a win this weekend, as Diaz is on a two-fight losing streak while "The Bully" has compiled a 1-2-1 mark in his past four matchups. 

Would Sanchez vs. Diaz or Sanchez vs. Maynard be a decent matchmaking play by the UFC after Saturday night?

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.