Diego Sanchez to move back to welterweight (170-pound) division
by James Kimball on Jan 18, 2010 5:14 PM EST
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Well that was quick.
After just three fights in the lightweight division -- and one hellacious beat down courtesy of division champion BJ Penn -- it looks like Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez is already thinking about going back to where he came from:
The 170-pound welterweight division.
From Twitter.com:
"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."
Sanchez, of course, is no stranger to the land of 170.
After winning the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" (TUF) as a middleweight, Sanchez swiftly dropped down to the lighter weight class, compiling an impressive record (8-2) with his only losses coming at the hands of top dogs Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck.
The reason for his possible return to 170 is up for debate, but maybe he feels that there is some unfinished business up north. Perhaps working toward a rematch with BJ Penn is not particularly enticing, either.
Regardless, he seems to have made up his mind. Is it the smart choice?
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Going back to 170?
Not a good idea. Stay at 55, and be the best when BJ decides to go back to 170. At WW Diego isn’t in the top 5. At LW he is top 3.
"Lets just leave it at that Rashad won, and i think it should have went to another round just off the fact Tiago had Rashad moments away form his pillow"-The Real Zack
Zack believes that because Silva won round three there should have been a fourth round. Changing the rules to satisfy a 15 year old retarded kid isn't what the UFC is all about. I think you have the UFC mixed up with the make a wish foundation. LOL
55
I agree. He’s closer to the top at 55. And didn’t he say recently his mission now is to avenge his loss to BJ? If he moves to 170, i would love to see a rubber match against Kos.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
He Barely got by Guida...
I would love to see the rubber match between him and Kos but I think Kos wins. His wrestling is to good and now that he actually has hands I like his chances. Fitch would maul him and I mean that in the dryest of humping ways. Fitch also is much to big for him. At least at 155 he is easily in the top 5 in the UFC. At 170 he barely breaks the top 10.
He beat Guida all over the cage. Just because some retard judge doesn’t understand the difference between fighting and humping doesn’t change what actually happened.
The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful
Pretty sure that was only the first round...
the other 2 rounds were pretty close if memory seres me correct! Apparently not…
It is the right move
As a Diego fan that have been following him and getting to know his strength and weaknesses i can without a doubt say that he’s a better fighter at WW and that he shouldn’t have moved down in the first place. He was finally starting to improve and was on a roll there with i think it was 3 straight wins, so him moving back up is great.
I think he had an incredibly good performance against Fitch where he won IMO, basically his whole fighting style depends on him being in top physical condition and that wasn’t possible at 155 as his legs looked way too thin.
fresh like uhh.
I’ve always thought that Sanchez has looked weak at 155. His strikes lack power and his body looks drained. I’ve felt the same way about Swick at 170, with the exception of his fight with Saunders.
I realize that he’s at a size disadvantage against the top welterweights, but at 155 the tools that made him a force to be reckoned with seem lessened. He isn’t talented enough to win a title in either weight class regardless, so maybe he should go back up to where he has better power and stamina, and isn’t killing himself to make weight.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Jan 18, 2010 5:38 PM EST up reply actions
Am i the only one thinking 145? lol
Seriously i hate this jumping up and down weight classes hoping for belts. He made his name on relentless pace and cardio but nowadays the MMA landscape has changed. That use to be an advantage even 2-3 yrs ago but really no one except HWs have cardio issues anymore. So that leaves skill and Diego never really had any. This is the age of MMA where advantage can only be gained in technical ability within the three dimensions because everything else such as 5+ round cardio, proper weight cutting, etc.. are simply a mininum requirement now. This results in your clay guidas, sanchezs, randy coutures and many others in the back of the line as far as being good/great fighters.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 18, 2010 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
Great post except for the 145 part.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Jan 18, 2010 6:09 PM EST up reply actions
Speaking of moving up to welterweight...
It appears Nate “Sandbox Staredown” Diaz is fighting Rory Markham at 170 at UFC 111. The kid looks hungry. Win or lose, at least he’ll get to eat for a few months.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Jan 18, 2010 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
i dont know what nate is thinking!!!!
hes no where near big enough for 170 he will get destroyed a watered down verssion of nick
Pound for Pound top 5
1. Anderson Sliva
2. GSP
3. Fedor
4. BJ Penn
5. Lyoto Machida
by NorCal Mexican on Jan 18, 2010 6:48 PM EST up reply actions
If there's one thing that Markham is ..
it’s a finisher. No defensive skills but much like scott smith, you can always count on his power. Nate was gettin rocked by Maynard at times, Mark is gonna nap him.
Also jeremy – I was joking about the FW thing but really diego is really the only person nutty enough to chop off a leg in exchange for a shot at a belt.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 18, 2010 7:00 PM EST up reply actions
Nah Nate will submit Markham, he's not that good
I’m happy that Nate is going to bulk up, he’s always looked too skinny at 155 in my opinion and he struggled with the cut to face Melvin. If he can put on weight properly then he won’t be as easy to takedown and control on the ground as he has been lately. As for Markham that guy has some sick power but isn’t very technical and doesn’t have much grappling skill, Nate should look to get that fight to the ground and submit Rory and I don’t see him having too many problems in that fight if he doesn’t try to outbox him.
"Wanderlei is focused and well trained...he will easily win this fight, by a large margin and with much better technique."
Anderson Silva on why Wand is going to smash Bisping. Get ready to lose your dignity frosnt.
stay 155
no way in hell he will beat GSP. at least theres less competition in 150.
if he beat kenny flo and few more top guys he will get title shot again..
…. then gets beat up by BJ Penn again.
No way he beats Kenny Again
Kenny is the best at 55 besides BJ Diego is 3rd
This sucks hope he at least fights Kenny before moving back up thats a fight I really want to see, Diego has inproved a bunch since back then but kenny has improved more at least in my ipinion
Pound for Pound top 5
1. Anderson Sliva
2. GSP
3. Fedor
4. BJ Penn
5. Lyoto Machida
by NorCal Mexican on Jan 18, 2010 5:49 PM EST up reply actions
It's the only fight that makes sense and yes
Kenny would brutally bash him and his 1-2 left high kick combo standup. On the mat, he might match kenny simply by increasing the workrate but he’s not as good (And yes i have seen his match with Marcelo).
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 18, 2010 6:02 PM EST up reply actions
problem is...
BJ may follow him
"OH GOD THAT'S DISGUSTING! HE BROKE HIS FREAKIN' ARM"
"hey man that's the business, we're not figure skating"
In the name of the Fedor, the Anderson and the GSP. Amen.
by Spinning Fat Kick on Jan 19, 2010 7:18 AM EST up reply actions
No, no, no and no.
Bad idea imo. Since Diego has left 170, the talent pool has gotten deeper with the addition of guys like Hazelett, Daley, Swick and Hardy to name a few. It’s doubtful that he’d be able to challenge these guys since they’re getting bigger. His best bet is to stay at 155 and continue to be one of the top guys. At 170 nowadays, he’s not even top 10 because of the talent that’s in the division right now. Stay 155 and try your best to be #2 or #3. It’s a better idea than moving up to an ass kicking.
After frankie, BJ is gonna move up so
- or 3 at LW is still feasible but that’s because there are a couple of LWs that i don’t give him a chance at beating.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 18, 2010 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
Eh...
I don’t know if BJ will necessarily move up just yet. With Gomi getting signed, I can him getting a win and then fighting BJ to “unify” the PRIDE and UFC LW titles (See Hendo for an example). However, after that, yeah, BJ will move up. I don’t view Maynard as enough of a threat to even warrant a title matchup either so… yeah, Edgar, Gomi and possibly a rematch with Florian. I wouldn’t be at all shocked to see BJ finish all three matches this year either.
Oh i don't even see the point for a gomi match.
Penn is the absolute worst stylistic matchup for him. There isn’t a single worthy challenger or even promising prospect at LW good enough to give BJ anything close to less than beatdown fight in any forseeable future. But i guess you gotta integrate all the belts to have official lineal titles under zuffa control. They may be able to mold history as they wish for now but soon enough the sport will be big enough where the UFC will get questioned by the public if they are missing things like that. Now all they’re missing is Fedor and his belt.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 18, 2010 7:07 PM EST up reply actions
Gomi wouldn't stand a chance!!
Depending on who they give Gomi first, he might not even pick up a W. Most likely they’re gonna feed him a total can to pick up a win and get comfortable, but imo. once they give him a wrestler he’s done.
I do a lot of jacking off, ya know, because I don’t get no women, so these arms are, like, humongously big. See it’s workout, and it’s pleasure.._" Charles Bennett
Gomi is rumored to be fighting Florian. Given how Gomi has looked lately, I’d be surprised if he gets through Kenny.
I would like to see a Florian/Sanchez rematch before Diego moves back up to 170, but it seems unlikely right now.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Jan 18, 2010 11:12 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed
Kenny will beat Gomi comfortably as Gomi is well past his prime and Kenny has never looked better and a Kenny-Diego rematch would have been good.
I don’t blame Diego for moving back to 170 as like RoB said he’s looked too skinny at 155 and he still has unfinished business there with Kos and Fitch. If Diaz wasn’t facing Markham then it would have been good to see him and Diego fight each other at 170, Diego made the challenge on Twitter but it’s too late for that now.
"Wanderlei is focused and well trained...he will easily win this fight, by a large margin and with much better technique."
Anderson Silva on why Wand is going to smash Bisping. Get ready to lose your dignity frosnt.
Too Many Hits to the Head, Diego
Die
Stupid Signature Goes Here
What I was going to say...
“Die” ? haha
Diego needs a handler. Whenever he speaks, it doesn’t go well.
Stupid Signature Goes Here
the main thing diego needs to do is fire saulo riberio and get with a real camp.
155/170 does’nt really matter. its his lack of technique that is hurting him.
i mean seriously charging in face first over and over at bj penn is retarted. he had no idea what to do when he closed the gap. and riberio kept saying “take him down, take him down”
swallow your pride and go back to jacksons camp and work out with some of the best trainers and partners on earth. otherwise you are D-O-N-E-
He'll never go back to Jackson's.
I don’t think his camp is hurting him either. I think he just hit his ceiling. He’ll never beat BJ, doesn’t matter who trains him. If he starts losing to guys he should beat-then worry about his camp. What he needs to do is settle the F down. Quit weight jumping and acting all crazy. He should stay at LW. There is nothing good waiting for him at 170.
"Lets just leave it at that Rashad won, and i think it should have went to another round just off the fact Tiago had Rashad moments away form his pillow"-The Real Zack
Zack believes that because Silva won round three there should have been a fourth round. Changing the rules to satisfy a 15 year old retarded kid isn't what the UFC is all about. I think you have the UFC mixed up with the make a wish foundation. LOL
Gud point jay i been noticing that a lot l8ly
fighters jumping w8 classes all crazy after a loss or 2! They shud fight at wut ever w8 they feel comfortable at!
agree
I think you’re right on both fronts Jay. Way too much cholo pride to go back to Jackson’s camp. While i’d like to see him get another crack at Kos and Fitch, there’s not too much upside in going back up to WW for Diego. Of course it’s easy for us to say, we don’t have to cut the weight!! There are some really good fights still at 155 for Diego (Edgar, Maynard, Sherk, Diaz, Griffin, and the list goes on…..) Furthermore, i’d like to see him put another ass kicking on Florian…….Diego was totally outclassed by BJ, but everyone is outclassed by BJ at 155. I don’t care how much better Florian has gotten since the season 1 finale, Diego will pound his ass out.
I’m thinking that we’ll get a pretty good number on Diego at the sportsbook for his next fight. BJ made him look bad, but the reality is that he is still a beast at 155, and depending on his next opponent, you should be able to get him at a bargain.
JAY
In a way I agree,, there’s nothing good for him at 170lbs but he’s no match for BJ and I think the reality of that hit him hard’’’ and he’s not motivated to make the sacrifice to cut that kinda’ weight… yup he needs to settle down, but Diego’s probably eating his way out of a depression, if BJ ever leaves 155lbs, he can try to drop down again.
He strikes me as the kind of guy who cartwheels his way out of a depression, not eats his way out.
I understand the whole not wanting to cut that much weight thing. But it seems he is just hopping from weight to weight trying to win a belt. I don’t see him doing that at 170, even if GSP decided to move to 185. There is probably 8 guys at 170 who would make that cut over his eye look like a scratch. His best chances at winning are at 155, IMO.
I love it when...
people get beat in a certain weight class they think it’s best to go up? Bigger guys will hurt you even more dumbass!
Depends.
Moving down is generally what you want to do, but sometimes a fighter’s given attributes are adversely affected by the weakening that occurs from dropping to and maintaining a lower weight. If there were a 162 lb class, that would be the perfect weight for Diego.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Jan 18, 2010 7:17 PM EST up reply actions
JJ.
You’re not picking in Mac’s pool?
"Lets just leave it at that Rashad won, and i think it should have went to another round just off the fact Tiago had Rashad moments away form his pillow"-The Real Zack
Zack believes that because Silva won round three there should have been a fourth round. Changing the rules to satisfy a 15 year old retarded kid isn't what the UFC is all about. I think you have the UFC mixed up with the make a wish foundation. LOL
Hey man.
Nah, I don’t really have time to post much these days. Plus, I was under the impression I had to get in on it earlier.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Jan 18, 2010 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
You can start in this event. You are just 10 fights behind every else
Top guy already has 9. If you don’t mind starting behind, I’m sure Mac would make an exception.
"IDEA"
PUT HIM IN WITH PAUL DAILY AN SEE IF HE STILL WANTS TO FIGHT AT THAT WEIGHT. OR THE WINNER OF KOS VS DAILY
keep him at 155
I wanna see a rematch with Kenny before he goes back up. Even a fight with some of the wrestlers like Gray or Tyson.
Regardless of where he goes, imo. he’ll never be champion, and he’ll have a much tougher time even getting into contention returning to 170.
pwilson
I think 170 is a better division for Diego.
He just seemed a little weaker at light weight. Joe Daddy kept smiling everytime Diego hit him with a punch. He also seemed more explosive at 170. Would love to see him fight Kos again.
Tough to call
It’s tough to call. There’s a very real possibility that Penn and St. Pierre are going to go up in weight. Sanchez would be in a good spot at 155 without BJ Penn there.
MMAMoneyLine
SILLY, SILLY MOVE!!!
He got beatdown by 2 x top 5 ww – then decided hes to small – after his first fights at lw, he stated this is where he belongs but after realising hell never beat BJ – he wants to go back at ww only to fight a guy BJ cant beat in GSP – this does not make sense – Stay at lw and learn, grow from your mistakes, dont make excuses!!!! Anyway kenny will own him at lw!! now with Gomi here, Diego should stay in this division as there are still good matchups!! Fitch and Kos will own him again, then whats he gonna do, go up to LHW to try and find a way to win!!
I don't think he really thought the move thru.
He was finishing fights at ww. His two loses were a ud & a sd against top 5 opponents. He wasnt able to finish any fight at lw and even Kenny looks like he would be the favorite in a rematch at lw. That, and I think the weight cutting is tougher than he’d thought it’d be.
I really doubt Gomi will fight Kenflo in his first ufc fight.
Why bring in a big name like Gomi just to have him lose right off the bat?
Good move imo
Yes I said it. He ain’t gonna be champ, so why to kill himself making 155? Ain’t healthy. I know he won’t be a contender, but he’ll give us some good fights.
From Champ to chump
Diego was talking a big game about getting that belt. Once he got rocked by BJ, his eyes were opened. I have heard of people moving down because they couldn’t handle the champs or contenders in their weight class, but moving up? I think we need a name for this. The dirty,,,er, wait, the heavy Sanchez?
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