Diego Sanchez Considering Return to Welterweight
by Scott Haber on Jan 18, 2010 9:58 AM EST
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The consequences of Diego Sanchez's brutal loss to BJ Penn in a lightweight title fight at UFC 107 may be more extensive than previously thought. MMA Weekly reports on an unexpected message posted by Sanchez on his Facebook page:
The New Mexico native on Sunday night left a somewhat cryptic message via his Facebook page stating "going back up to 170."
When contacted by MMAWeekly.com, Jeff Clark, Sanchez's manager, indicated that there has been no official decision made at this time about what weight class he will compete in next.
Although he struggled with the top-dog wrestlers at 170, losing to Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck in consecutive bouts, Sanchez was still overall quite successful at welterweight, going 8-2, and riding a two fight winning-streak when he made the drop to 155 in late 2008. There are still many compelling bouts for the Nightmare at lightweight (Tyson Griffin, Gray Maynard, Nate Diaz, and perhaps most enticingly, a rematch with Kenny Florian). However, Sanchez has never been one to hide his aspirations for championship glory, and he is probably not content to play the Rich Franklin game and just take big fights to please the UFC.
Furthermore, Sanchez was openly vocal about the difficulties he had making the cut to 155, and even though he never missed weight in any of this three lightweight bouts, he was almost certainly more drained than he ever was at welterweight where he was considered a cardio machine. That combined with the psychological consequences of his destruction at the hands (and foot) of Penn might just be enough to send Sanchez back to welterweight, but the question remains: will he ever be able to get past the wrestlers that hold court at the top of that division, let alone make it all the way to another title shot?
UPDATE: Sanchez confirmed the move on his Twitter account
YES IM GOING BACK TO WELTERWEIGHT IM LOVING MY NEW DIET.I WANT KOS OR FITCH BUT ANY TOP GUY WILL DO JUST WANT TO GIVE U FANS THE BEST FIGHT
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Diego will next drop to 145 to fight Aldo…get super kneed then drop even further to 135. He really wants a belt.
what’s he gonna do to bendo? throw a bunch of robot punches?
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 18, 2010 7:05 PM EST up reply actions
Diego’s stand up is better, wrestling is better, Jitz is better. I’d pick him over Bendo any day.
Sorry, he Jason Bourned me.
Diego’s standup is about as relaxed as a rockem sockem robot, his wrestling is good but not great, and his jitz is solid, but he’s more of a defensive jitz than offensive. i’d probably go bendo.
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 18, 2010 7:25 PM EST up reply actions
Even if his standup is rudimentary, I still reckon if you mix it with his speed, he would give Bendo trouble standing. It’s not as though Bendo’s stand up is all that great. And with comparing their wrestling, i can’t really see Bendo taking down Fitch but Sanchez did twice if i remember correctly. Add in Diego’s mean face and YUS! mentality and I think he takes home the W.
Sorry, he Jason Bourned me.
Id do the same thing. Beating BJ isnt happening and GSP is going to move up once he finishes off the division, Even if GSP doesn’t worst case scenario you lose a 5 round decision and go home in one piece, B.J. is destroying people at the moment getting out of his division is smart to me.
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
One piece? GSP super knees you when you’re in the turtle position.
by Matthew Roth on Jan 18, 2010 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
Id take gsp knees over what penn has been doing as of late. GSP is a dominate champion but he is going to do far less damage with his style.
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
No kidding, I’d rather have a broken rib than a facial reconstruction.
The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world. My world is like the ocean, I’m like a shark and most people don't even know how to swim - Draculino
by Patrick Tenney on Jan 18, 2010 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
You really think he does less damage? Tell that to John Fitch’s face. Or Matt Serra’s kidneys. Having a vagina on your face is embarrassing but pissing blood is far worse.
by Matthew Roth on Jan 18, 2010 11:10 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Of course BJ does more damage. He fights to the death, to the death George…
by dancingChicken on Jan 18, 2010 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Gonna have to disagree with “having a vagina on your face us embarassing”.
by ufc4 on Jan 18, 2010 12:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Having a vagina on your face is very embarrassing.
by Matthew Roth on Jan 18, 2010 12:09 PM EST up reply actions
actually
it depends on what the rest of the girl looks like.
by bobthewriter on Jan 18, 2010 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Tell that to Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves. GSP is battering his opponents.
by Hardcharger on Jan 18, 2010 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
It sucks to be a welterweight or lightweight or middleweight right now. The champions in those divisions are head and shoulders above everyone else.
http://www.facebook.com/YUSDiegoYUS/
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Jan 18, 2010 12:41 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
So Diego will maybe go to WW to avoid being second fiddle to BJ at LW, but I don’t see him having much success up there with the top guys. Fitch and Kos already beat him, and I think Alves would just kill him. Plus, if BJ chases GSP into WW, which is entirely possible, what’s Diego going to do? Drop down to LW again cause he’s desperate for a title?
I love me some Sexyama!
Diego just isn't a title caliber fighter
Sorry…I think your going to see this with a lot of people trying to move around weight classes…Once the talent pool gets good enough moving around weight classes isn’t going to con you a title.
That's what I was getting at.
Diego just isn’t going to hold a title, no matter how much positive energy he channels.
I love me some Sexyama!
Haha...
Here’s a craaaazzzy idea, Diego.
Channel your positive energy into…you know….your skillset?
His striking is still robotic and predictable.
Despite his strong submission defense game, where is his submission offense?
He needs to focus on setting it up better, IMO….like Penn.
I just don’t see Diego overpowering top guys at either weight class, to where he can TKO them with ground and pound.
I could see him holding a title at 155 if he can make the cut. But only if BJ moves up.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Jan 18, 2010 1:06 PM EST up reply actions
That’s true, but if you look right now there are really some very talented fighters in each division.
Aldo, BJ, GSP, Silva, Machida, Lesnar/Fedor. I think that’s the trend as the talent pool keeps getting flushed out…You are going to have to be REALLY good to hold a title, there aren’t going to be Tim Sylvia’s and Matt Serra’s running around anymore.
While I agree that if Diego stays at LW and BJ moves up in a year or so, Diego might have a short burst of success, I feel that soon enough another premiere talent fighter will emerge who will way outclass Diego.
I also think Kenflo can beat Diego. That’s the fight I really want to see in any case, which is why Diego shouldn’t move.
Diego still has that big fight with Kenny Florian at 155. Some fighters just aren’t going to be champion, and that applies to all sports. Diego is a very good fighter at both Lightweight and Welterweight, but with BJ at Lightweight and GSP at Welterweight, he is just not likely to beat them. It’s good that he has that goal to be a champion and not just to have good/fun fights, but the reality is that he will always be a contender or in that mix but not a champion.
Diego should move up to 195 and call out Belfort for his belt if he wants a title, there’s only 3 other fighters in the Franklinweight divison
Shoot, puff up to 215....
the Kimboweight title is more attainable.
I’m pretty sure he could beat KJ Noons for the 160 title
by Matthew Roth on Jan 18, 2010 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
If he moved up to 176 for the Rumbleweight title I think he’d have a good shot
by StevenGiles on Jan 18, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Who said that boxing was wrong for having so many weight classes? Diego needs a belt!
by Matthew Roth on Jan 18, 2010 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
He'd get a really dangerous fight there
if the Alvesweight champ adds 2 lbs to move up.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
There was a peice on here about a week ago about the costs of weight cutting and why some fighters just aren’t the same when they drop down a weight class. I had a feeling that Diego’s move back up to 170 is less about title aspirations and more about the fact that he was simply a better fighter at 170 and no longer wants to kill himself making such a drastic weight cut.
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by mburtoni on Jan 18, 2010 10:38 AM EST via mobile reply actions
he looked like a pretty good fighter against Clay and Joe fact is Penn raped his mind soul and body and he knows getting the strap at 155 isnt happening.
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
For a guy who was 8-2 at WW with 5 KO/TKO finishes and unlimited cardio, I was kinda shocked he went to decisions w/ daddy and huggy bear. He just ain’t quite the same tenacious fighter he was at 170.
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by mburtoni on Jan 18, 2010 11:28 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
That's typical of Diego at 170
He finishes mediocre competition at 170…
He decisions top 10 guys he has a strength advantage over like Karo and Nick.
He loses decision to top 10 guys he doesn’t have a strength advantage over like Fitch and Koscheck.
I think he could be a top 3 guy at 170….I doubt he can be a top 5 guy at WW.
You point out that Sanchez’s main weakness @ WW were against guys who had strength advantage over him but believes that he will be more successful at MW where guys are practically bigger than him?
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
Correction: I see him as a top 3 guy at 155 (not 170)….
The thought of him at 185 never even crossed my mind.
by MickDawg on Jan 18, 2010 3:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
yeah
He might make the cut but no one knows how is feeling health wise getting there. Cutting weight seems like it comes naturally to some (see Alves, T), but Diego may not be one of those guys.
"of a world thats doing its best, night and day,
to make me everybody else"
by Lay 'n' Pray on Jan 18, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
Nah I was serious, it’s crazy how much weight Alves cuts, same with Rumble.
"of a world thats doing its best, night and day,
to make me everybody else"
by Lay 'n' Pray on Jan 18, 2010 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
Considering I can see their arms and legs, I’m not so sure I want to know which body part they’re removing (and how much that thing must weigh).
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
He does cut a lot
I thought you were kidding about it being “naturally” since he was popped for diuretics. But that was only once that I know of.
I wrote that lol.
I’m actually very glad to hear Diego is considering a move back to 170. I wonder if he read my piece? lol
Check out my articles at www.fightlockdown.com
by MilesHackett on Jan 18, 2010 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
Moving up
So he’s gonna fight bigger and stronger guys than him? So now he doesn’t even want a chance at a title shot?
He looked much better at WW... much more comfortable it seems.
At that weight he has a speed advantage, and a tenacity that a lot of guys won’t have…. He lost to Fitch in a close fight, and Kos (who he also beat) while he had a bad staph infection (since apparently staph infections cancel out legit victories)..
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
I like Sanchez at either weight, he is always a game fighter . He is definitely one of the best products of TUF.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
by vivero on Jan 18, 2010 11:02 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I knew it
I knew Diego wasn’t going to last, his hopes for a title are slim until Gsp and Bj are both out. Now don’t get me wrong, I like how he fights, relentless just begins to describe him, but I knew he was dodging the elite at 170, and then had his ass handed to him by BJ. What does Diego think is going to change when he starts getting to the top at 170? Theres plenty of fighters in 170 that will do the same to Diego.
LOL at not wanting to be the Rich Franklin at 155, and then suggesting that a move to WW would be any better.
Diego couldn’t even be the Rich Franklin of WW. He’s better at LW. He needs to learn how to keep more muscle mass and cut water when fighting at LW.
He was doing really good a WW, im not sure if you can say he is better at LW. His losses at WW were to Fitch and Kos. He is very explosive at WW because he has the speed advantage. I really want to see how he fairs against Florian @ 155, to judge what is the best division for him. Fitch is the #2 WW, Florian is the #2 LW,. If he beats Florian, I say he is better at LW than WW, but otherwise, he is better off at WW. Exciting scrambles.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
So if this is true, what happened to this goal, Diego?
“To be honest I’m really f’nnnn pist off I hate losing and am more hungry for victory than ever … All I can think about is working my way back to earn another shot at Bj Penn. My dream has changed it is no longer just become ufc champion it is to fight Bj Penn again. I will put my heart and soul into this!!! Im on a mission now. All you doubters shut up and watch me!”
- mania.
I love me some Sexyama!
Diego Lost the little power he had with this drop to lightweight, and his speed and tenacity advantages he enjoyed at welterweight became lost in the 155 mix. This is a smart move, I was hoping he’d do that. He’s a serious fight for anyone not named GSP at welterweight, and when GSP moves up to MW, then yhe could actually be a legit contender.
SMART move on his part if he goes through with it.
Diego's never lost like that before
so I expect him to change a little. Give him some time, he’ll sort it out
Never seen someone beaten into a higher weight class. Damn.
Keep firing Assholes!
Mind numbing, tedious and ultimately self defeating.
I just want to point out that as scary as GSP is as the welterweight champ
…It only took one fight with BJ to send Diego back UP to welterweight. GSP is dominant, but BJ is terrifying.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
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