Eddie Sanchez knows he's an 8-to-1 underdog heading into tonight's fight with Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in Las Vegas. Sanchez hears the whispers from mixed-martial arts fans who think he's crazy, stupid or too inexperienced -- or all three. And he's well aware most everyone, fans and experts alike, are saying he's going to get his head kicked in.

The San Marcos High graduate has heard it all -- and none of it bothers him. For Sanchez, this heavyweight bout is nothing more than a sparring session compared to the life-threatening ordeal he faced 3 1/2 years ago.

Whether it's stupidity or a swagger that can only come from cheating death, the 24-year-old North County Fight Club member isn't afraid of the prospect of going head-to-head with Filipovic, the Ultimate Fighting Championship's newest poster boy.

Sanchez is embracing the opportunity.

"With this sport I'm so realistic it's not funny," Sanchez said. "I'm supposed to lose this fight. They're saying, 'Let's give Mirko a steppingstone.' I can care less what people are saying, that I'm crazy, that I'm stupid. You've got to be an idiot not to fight the best. … What's the worst thing that can happen to me? I get knocked out.

"It's nothing compared to going through a windshield."

Or the trauma that followed.

Sanchez (6-0) endured three weeks of intensive care and an additional 4 1/2 months of rehabilitation after he was involved in an early morning automobile crash in late 2003. Sanchez said he was driving 95 mph and wasn't wearing a seat belt when he was cut off by another car on Interstate 5 near La Costa Boulevard.

He swerved to avoid an accident and crashed into the center divider. The resulting collision slammed him face-first into the steering wheel and knocked him unconscious.

Although he was knocked out, Sanchez's foot remained jammed on the accelerator, sending the car into a tumble. Because he wasn't belted in, Sanchez was ejected through the windshield on the first of the seven times the car rolled over.

When he regained consciousness, doctors told Sanchez he had cracked his head and had serious injuries to his arm and back.

Even worse was his right foot.

Most of the skin was gone, and his toes were dislocated. Doctors told Sanchez there was a 50-50 chance they would have to amputate his foot and that he wouldn't walk for six-to-eight months.

Looking back, Sanchez figures he got off easy.

"Stupid me, I was going 95 and not wearing a seat belt," said Sanchez as he began displaying several scars. "My head was busted open, my arm was shredded, my back was shredded and my foot from here to here was opened up. Luckily they tried saving (the foot) because I was so young. There were two other people that got in similar accidents that night. One of them, they were going to pull the plug on him. And the other one was going to be a vegetable the rest of his life."

Several of Filipovic's (21-4-2) past opponents have been said to leave arenas in similar states.

Filipovic's outstanding kickboxing abilities have helped the former K1 champion and PRIDE fighter achieve 14 wins via knockout. And as he makes his UFC debut, the former Croatian SWAT team member is widely considered the second-best heavyweight in all of mixed-martial arts behind PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko.

"He's a heavyweight that offers something that most can't, the high kick," said Josh Gross, editor of Sherdog.com, a mixed-martial arts Web site. "You've seen it, but not the way he offers it. The only man he has trouble with is the best fighter in the world."

So why would Sanchez, who has a paltry six MMA fights under his belt, put himself in this position? Because it's an enviable one, said his manager Jeff Clark.

"All eyes are going to be on this fight," Clark said. "A lot of fighters were afraid of taking this fight. To be among the best fighters you have to fight the best. Hopefully everyone sees (Sanchez) as the warrior for coming in and fighting 'Cro Cop'."

And there's the money too.

Sanchez, who earned $4,000 in September for his knockout victory of Mario Neto at UFC 63 in Anaheim, said he will take home more for appearing against Filipovic than he made in all of 2006. The fight is also part of a new three-fight deal that gives Sanchez, who was a personal trainer last year, the opportunity to hand pick his next opponent.

But for the time being, Sanchez, a former catcher for the Palomar College baseball team, isn't concerned with his future. And he's certainly not feeling the pressure that he thinks Filipovic will come fight time.

"I'm taking this fight like any other fight," said Sanchez, who first studied jiujitsu with Vista's Michio Grubbs. "All the pressure's on him. They're paying him millions of dollars to come over here and fight and make a name for himself. I've only been in MMA for three years. This opportunity at this point of my career is awesome. It's a win-win situation.

"Whether I beat 'Cro Cop' or I lose to him, I'm going to live to fight another day."

Et cetera

Temecula's Team Quest has announced that one of its fighters, Thierry Sokoudjou, a national judo champion with a 2-1 record, will fight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (12-2) on the PRIDE Fighting Championship's Feb. 24 card in Las Vegas. Sokoudjou will join teammate Dan "Hollywood" Henderson on the card as Henderson (21-5) is set for a rematch with Wanderlai Silva (31-6-1). Henderson lost by decision to Silva in a Dec. 9, 2000 bout.

Contact staff writer Dan Hayes at (760) 739-6643 or dhayes@nctimes.com.

Eddie Sanchez Did You Know?

-- He is 6-0 before tonight's UFC match with Mirko Filipovic

-- He was a catcher for the Palomar College baseball team

-- He graduated from San Marcos High

-- His dad Lorenzo reached Double-A in the Pads organization

-- Sanchez began his jiu-jitsu training with Vista's Michio Grubbs

Eddie Sanchez

Age: 24

Hometown: San Marcos

Height: 6-2

Weight: 230

Record: 6-0, 1-0 in UFC

What: UFC 67

Who: Eddie Sanchez (6-0) vs. Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic (21-4-2) and eight other fights.

When: Tonight, 5 p.m; Main card starts at 7 p.m.

Where: Las Vegas

TV: Pay-per-view