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Joe Stevenson is taking the positives from being the first fighter to face Diego Sanchez at lightweight when the pair meet at UFC 95 at London's O2 Arena.

Sanchez has dropped down to 155lbs for the fight on February 21 after a spell at welterweight.

He enters his first fight of 2009 on a two-fight win streak after submitting David Bielkheden at UFC 82 last March and stopping Luigi Fioravanti with strikes at The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale in June.

Sanchez's only two career losses have come in the welterweight ranks to highly-regarded Josh Koscheck at UFC 69 in April 2007 and Jon Fitch via split decision at UFC 76 in September 2007.

However, the Mexican native won the first series of the Ultimate Fighter as a middleweight, and will likely carry a significant size advantage into his first bout at 155lbs against former lightweight title-contender Stevenson.

Not that Stevenson is too concerned.

"I think he'll have a small advantage in terms of size, and he will be used to grappling with strong guys as he was fighting top guys up at 170lbs and 185lbs," he told Eurosport.

"But I also think it is to my advantage to get him in his first fight at 155lbs.This is his first time he has to make this weight, he'll be a little nervous about that. It takes a few times to get the weight-making down right.

"Also, it is first time overseas, and jetlag does play a factor. It is only a tiny factor, but it is still there and all those little things like the weight-making, the jet lag, the different weather in England, little things like that all start to add up.

"Like I said, I think Sanchez won't be at his very best in this fight as compared to his second or third fight at 155lbs.

"I think he is underestimating me, too. I think I made a bad mistake against Kenny Florian. I didn't perform in that fight. I made a mistake and paid bad.

"But although Diego is a great fighter, I've read some things where he thinks I am not having the best camp. Maybe he thinks I am lazing around at home, but I am not."

Stevenson said there had been some misinformation about his training camp for the fight, with some rumours claiming he had been staying at home while preparing - with the suggestion that he might not be as hungry mentally as a fighter who had trained away from the comforts of home for eight weeks.

"I am actually training closer to home this time," explained Steveneson.

"I am not staying at home, though, like I read somewhere. When I am in camp, I don't go home, so even though my wife and kids are 20 minutes away, I don't go home.

"It is better for my peace of mind that they are close, but yet I am not distracted by family either."

Never one to bad-mouth an opponent, Stevenson is predicting a great fight against an opponent he has a lot of time for.

And although the winner is likely to remain some way from the title picture, dependant on BJ Penn's next move following his heavy defeat at the hands of Georges St Pierre in their welterweight showdown, both men will be eyeing a sizable scalp to add to their resume.

"I've known him a long time," Stevenson added, "way before I went on TUF, back to the smaller promotions when we started out.

"I've got nothing but nice things to say about him. We have similar styles, although he kicks more than I do. I am looking forward to the fight. Diego is someone who will come at me instead of staying back worried about me taking them down. I think it will be a great fight.

"After the 2008 I had I need to not only win, but win big. I need to make completely sure of things. I can't leave it to the judges, to chance, nothing. I want to stop Diego. I want to stop him or submit him.

"That will be a statement right there. He is not easily hurt or stopped, even his two loses were on points, which is why I want to be the first to do it."

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport