Tag: Diego Sanchez

Dan Hardy Would Love to Face "Hilarious" Diego Sanchez

It seems British welterweight on the rise, Dan Hardy, would be eager to face Diego Sanchez, because guys like Jake Ellenberger are out of his league right now. When asked which of the two he’d like to face next, Hardy said (H/T ESPN): “Elle…

It seems British welterweight on the rise, Dan Hardy, would be eager to face Diego Sanchez, because guys like Jake Ellenberger are out of his league right now.

When asked which of the two he’d like to face next, Hardy said (H/T ESPN):

“Ellenberger’s closer to a title shot than fighting me at the moment. I’m trying to be realistic about where I am, and I need to win one or two fights before I’m back in his pool.”

But when it came to Sanchez, Hardy said he would love to fight him because he thinks the fighter is “hilarious” and that he can’t “take him seriously.”

Sanchez is looking to move back down to lightweight, where he hasn’t fought since losing to B.J. Penn for the title in 2009. He’s expected to face Takanori Gomi at UFC on Fuel 8 in Japan, but that’s not because he’s had an unsuccessful career at 170 lbs.

His last three fights at welterweight have been the Fight of the Night, where he beat Paulo Thiago, Martin Kampmann and lost narrowly to Ellenberger in an all-out war.

On past record, Sanchez could easily move back up a division to grant Hardy’s wishes.

Hardy himself is a rejuvenated fighter after going on a career threatening four-fight losing streak between 2010 and 2011. He’s since found form, beating Duane Ludwig by knockout and Amir Sadollah by unanimous decision.

As to when we’ll see Hardy back in action, the Brit suggested the end of March or beginning of April 2013 is most likely.

“I’m making improvements now, I’m at a good team, and I want to allow myself that time to improve,” Hardy said.

“It’s very difficult to improve during training camp…you’re just focused on game-planning and condition. Away from training camp I can think about the things I need to improve on.”

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Diego Sanchez May Fight Takanori Gomi at UFC on Fuel 8 in Japan

Can “The Fireball Kid” survive “The Dream” with a home court advantage?That’s the question we might be asking if a fight between Takanori Gomi and Diego Sanchez is made official for UFC on Fuel 8, the promotion’s next card in Japan.Judging by a recent …

Can “The Fireball Kid” survive “The Dream” with a home court advantage?

That’s the question we might be asking if a fight between Takanori Gomi and Diego Sanchez is made official for UFC on Fuel 8, the promotion’s next card in Japan.

Judging by a recent Twitter post from Sanchez, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva is currently waiting on Gomi to sign off for that match, which will likely take place on the main card:

 

Sanchez is returning to the lightweight division after his recent 2-2 welterweight run ended in a close decision loss against Jake Ellenberger at UFC on Fuel 1 last February. Despite the middling record, Sanchez nonetheless racked up three consecutive “Fight of the Night” awards.

Gomi, on the other hand, is coming off his first back-to-back wins since joining the UFC in March 2010. He also just won a “Fight of the Night” split decision against Mac Danzig at UFC on Fuel 6 in Macau, China.

No bouts have been announced or confirmed for the UFC on Fuel 8 card yet, although the promotion is expected to stack the event with as much Japanese talent on the roster as possible. Currently, that list includes the following fighters (without pre-existing bouts): Yoshihiro Akiyama, Takeya Mizugaki, Riki Fukuda and Yasuhiro Urushitani. 

Sanchez recently created a stir on Twitter by claiming welterweight title contender Nick Diaz is “scared” of fighting him in a rematch of their Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale main-event brawl. However, it’s a bout that’s unlikely to happen with Diaz still suspended (and unlicensed) following a positive marijuana drug test and Sanchez dropping down to 155 pounds once again.

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Diego Sanchez Attacks Nick Diaz: "I Whooped Your Ass Once, I’ll Do It Again"

Even though seven years have passed since their first fight, Diego Sanchez still believes he holds a significant edge over Nick Diaz.Sanchez, who recently decided to return to the lightweight division, could possibly stay at 170 pounds, if given the op…

Even though seven years have passed since their first fight, Diego Sanchez still believes he holds a significant edge over Nick Diaz.

Sanchez, who recently decided to return to the lightweight division, could possibly stay at 170 pounds, if given the opportunity to fight Diaz.

He took to Twitter on Sunday in an all-out attack on the former Strikeforce welterweight champ.

“I whooped your ass [once], and I’ll do it again….I’d rather whop your lil bro’s ass after he loses 12/8 ain’t scared at all,” said Sanchez.

The post appears to have been deleted from Sanchez’s Twitter account, but BJPenn.com was able to secure the story beforehand.

It’s public knowledge that Sanchez and Diaz has never really seen eye to eye, but the posts seem to be fueled by Diaz‘s comments after the welterweight title bout at UFC 154 between Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit.

After St-Pierre defeated Condit in perhaps the toughest bout of his professional career, Diaz took to Twitter to share his thoughts:

 

 

The comments may have riled up Sanchez, who shares the same head coach as St-Pierre and Condit.

After the initial Twitter post, Sanchez began a snowstorm of trash talk aimed directly at Diaz:

 

 

 

A rematch with Sanchez makes sense for Diaz at this point.

Some have harked on the possibility of the UFC pairing Diaz with top welterweight contender Johny Hendricks. There is a great chance that bout could come to fruition, but it wouldn’t be fair to make Hendricks climb another mountain in Diaz after already ousting three straight contenders.

Diaz is already coming off a loss to Condit, and after serving out his suspension, it will have been a year since he last competed.

Fans love a good old-fashioned grudge match, and there are very few fights lined up that will attract the same attention as Diaz vs. Sanchez II. As cliché as it sounds, styles make fights.

Could Sanchez be Diaz‘s kryptonite?

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5 Best Non-Title Main Events in UFC History

When the UFC goes without a title fight in a main event you can be sure they call upon some of their most exciting fighters to fill the gaps.Over the course of UFC history they have given us a treasure trove of memories.Some happened on PPV and some of…

When the UFC goes without a title fight in a main event you can be sure they call upon some of their most exciting fighters to fill the gaps.

Over the course of UFC history they have given us a treasure trove of memories.

Some happened on PPV and some of these fights were given to fans on a silver platter, live and free on television. 2012 alone has given fans such exciting battles like The Korean Zombie vs. Dustin Poirier, Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall, and Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann.

The non-title events should not be overlooked when a great fight is signed. Sometimes they end up as the best fights, and cards, of the year.

Here are the top five non-title main events in UFC history.

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Dana White Goes Off on Greg Jackson and Jon Jones Again

UFC President Dana White was not thrilled when UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones said he “felt like a piece of meat” in the wake of UFC 151’s cancellation:The Jon Jones piece of meat (expletive) thing. When I see him in (expletive) Toronto, that…

UFC President Dana White was not thrilled when UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones said he “felt like a piece of meat” in the wake of UFC 151’s cancellation:

The Jon Jones piece of meat (expletive) thing. When I see him in (expletive) Toronto, that’s the first (expletive) thing we’re going to talk about. Piece of meat? Give me a (expletive) break.

White’s delivered the outburst to a small group of reporters gathered at the UFC headquarters (via MMA Fighting). 

He was just getting started:

That sounds like something a male supermodel would say: ‘I feel like a piece of meat out here (mocking voice)’…That pisses me off worse than (expletive) canceling the event.

Additionally, White ripped Jones for not taking a fight with Chael Sonnen as a last-minute replacement for Dan Henderson. For not disclosing his knee injury sooner, “Hendo” also drew the ire of White

As far as White himself? He feels that he doesn’t deserve any blame for the event falling apart.

“If somebody can even try to give me an idea of how that’s my fault that 151 got canceled, I would love to hear it,” he said. 

The UFC’s head honcho then went on a long-winded rant about Jones’ head trainer, Greg Jackson, saying he hates how Jackson portrays himself as a “nice guy,” and calling him a hypocrite.

The only reason we even know who Greg Jackson is ’cause of (expletive) Diego Sanchez…Diego Sanchez came out of his camp because of GSP. GSP wanted to come train at Jackson’s camp and Diego was like (expletive) that (expletive). ‘This is my house, man. I’m going to have to fight this guy one day.’ What did Greg Jackson do? (Expletive) GSP down there isn’t he. You know why because he believed GSP would (expletive) beat Diego Sanchez. He made a business decision. I will take him over him. What happened to (expletive) family?

White also cited the problems between Rashad Evans and Jones at Jackson’s MMA camp as another example of Jackson, who he also called a “(expletive) con-artist,” not being loyal to his “family.” (Evans eventually left the camp.)

White put Jones on notice that he would get a stern talking to once they crossed paths in Toronto, at UFC 152 on Sept. 22. 

After Jones declined the fight with Sonnen, it seemed academic that “Bones” would rematch Lyoto Machida at UFC 152. But “The Dragon” didn’t want the fight on short notice.

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, the man Jones won the title from at UFC 128, was offered a rematch as well, but he also wasn’t interested in a title bout without a full camp. 

When the smoke finally settled, former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort was booked to fight Jones next Saturday. Belfort hasn’t fought at 205-pounds in five years and was clearly a last ditch effort to find an opponent for the UFC’s youngest champion. 

Were White’s comments justified or is the UFC President beating a dead horse at this point?

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Diego Sanchez: Recent Fights by Teammates Clay Guida and Carlos Condit ‘Sucked’

Greg Jackson operates one of the most highly regarded MMA gyms in the world, producing countless champions over the years. However, the world-renowned coach has faced heavy criticism in recent years for producing “safe” fighters who look to outpoi…

Greg Jackson operates one of the most highly regarded MMA gyms in the world, producing countless champions over the years. 

However, the world-renowned coach has faced heavy criticism in recent years for producing “safe” fighters who look to outpoint opponents instead of looking for the finish. 

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez, one of Jackson’s students, agrees with the criticism, at least to some degree. 

On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Sanchez told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that he did not agree with with the way teammates Clay Guida and Carlos Condit approached their most recent fights. 

“I thought both of those fights sucked,” Sanchez said of Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz and Clay Guida vs. Gray Maynard.”My coaches might get mad at me for that, but that’s my opinion and I’m allowed to have my opinion.”

Condit fought Diaz at UFC 143 for the UFC interim welterweight title, with “The Natural-Born Killer” winning a disputed unanimous decision. As a matter of fact, Sanchez personally believed Diaz won that fight. 

I thought Nick Diaz won the fight with Carlos. When you’re not engaging and you’re not fighting, that takes away what this sport is. That’s my opinion, that’s why I want to fight someone like the Diaz boys who will come and step in front of you and fight you. I guess that’s all opinion, but the fans, they have my back on this, and that’s what fighting’s all about. It’s for the fans, and Dana White knows this. That’s why he gets so pissed off when there’s crappy fights like that. Us as fighters, we must step it up if we want to get taken care of and get paid right and grow this fight into the biggest spot in the world, above all other sports, we have to get in the cage and we have to leave it all in the cage every time.

Sanchez won a fairly one-sided decision over Diaz at The Ultimate Fighter 2 finale, all the way back in Nov. 2005.

Guida, who lost a closely contested “Fight of the Year” effort against Sanchez in June 2009, lost another split decision in his most recent effort against Maynard at UFC on FX 4 in June. 

The difference was that the bout with Maynard din’t have the slightest bit of action, largely because of Guida’s game plan: run around the cage until “The Bully” gets tired.

Not only did the plan not work, “The Carpenter” greatly disappointed the fans who are used to seeing the perennial lightweight contender put on highly entertaining fights.

Before the interview was over, Sanchez, who also owns the 2006 “Fight of the Year” honor for his war with Karo Parisyan at UFC Fight Night 6, blames Guida and Condit for the lackluster fights.

“It’s on that fighter,” Sanchez said. “In the end, they lock the door and the coaches aren’t in there with you. In the end, if you’re in the UFC, you are a professional, you paid your dues, and you know exactly what this job entails. You should go in there as a professional and do what you do. … I’d rather go out swinging, fighting like a warrior, those last 30 seconds. I’m going to leave it all out in the cage and know that I’m trying to finish my opponent, even knowing that most of my time it ain’t going to be a finish.”

Before concluding, Sanchez also noted that there are plenty of entertaining Jackson’s MMA fighters on the UFC roster who consistently put on a show in the Octagon. 

“Don’t give Greg and Coach Wink the hard rap,” he said. “There’s so many Jackson fighters like me, guys like Jon [Jones], there’s so many guys who are just straight-up warriors, who leave everything in the cage.”

Also worth noting is that a rematch with Guida is now possible, as Sanchez also announced his intentions to move back down to 155 pounds last week after a recent 2-2 run at welterweight.

In 28 career fights, Sanchez has fought at lightweight three times, going 2-1. After impressive and entertaining wins over Guida and Joe Stevenson, he was thoroughly beaten by BJ Penn at UFC 107. 

Although Nate Diaz is already slated to face the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson for the lightweight title, Sanchez said he would like the younger Diaz brother to be his next opponent.

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