Tag: Diego Sanchez

MMA Top 10 Welterweights: Few Challenges in Sight for GSP

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, Rankings, WelterweightsIt’s hard to believe that Georges St. Pierre could win his ninth straight fight, defending his welterweight title in front of 55,000 fans in one of the biggest events in UFC history, and h…

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Georges St-PierreIt’s hard to believe that Georges St. Pierre could win his ninth straight fight, defending his welterweight title in front of 55,000 fans in one of the biggest events in UFC history, and have it feel like something of a letdown.

But that is how St. Pierre’s unanimous decision victory over Jake Shields felt to many fans: We’ve seen this so many times — St. Pierre spending 25 minutes demonstrating that the other man in the Octagon is simply nowhere near as good as he is — that it’s starting to feel routine. And that’s not how one of the greatest fighters in history stepping into the Octagon should feel.

So are there any challenges remaining in the welterweight division? We’ll look at that question as we run down the Top 10 welterweights in MMA.

Falling Action: Best and Worst of UFC on Versus 3

Filed under: UFCThere are those who would argue that you can tell who won a fight by looking at each participant’s face when it’s over. They’re usually the same people who think takedowns are worthless and jiu-jitsu is some vague form of cheating, so d…

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There are those who would argue that you can tell who won a fight by looking at each participant’s face when it’s over. They’re usually the same people who think takedowns are worthless and jiu-jitsu is some vague form of cheating, so don’t listen to them.

Except just this once they seem to have a point. Both Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann took some damage in the main event of UFC on Versus 3, but it was Sanchez whose face looked like a Picasso that had been left out in the rain by the time it was all over. And you’re telling me this guy won?

He did on the judges’ scorecards, anyway, even if he might have had a hard time convincing the nurses in the hospital of that fact. Since the enduring images from that fight are likely to be ones of a deformed and bloodied Sanchez, it’s hard not to wonder if MMA fans will be any less skeptical.

Now on to Thursday night’s biggest winners, losers, and everything in between.

Diego Sanchez Beats Martin Kampmann in Close Decision at UFC on Versus 3

Filed under: UFCThe main event at UFC on Versus 3 was a wild one, as Diego Sanchez, his face a bloody mess, pulled out a unanimous decision win over Martin Kampmann.

Sanchez was getting pummeled in the early going, and he ended the fight with cuts all…

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The main event at UFC on Versus 3 was a wild one, as Diego Sanchez, his face a bloody mess, pulled out a unanimous decision win over Martin Kampmann.

Sanchez was getting pummeled in the early going, and he ended the fight with cuts all over his face and two badly swollen eyes, but he noted in his post-fight interview that he had hurt Kampmann as well.

“I caught him with some big shots, too — we both got caught with some big shots,” he said. “I thought I won the fight by putting on the pressure and I thought I controlled this fight.”

Sanchez wasn’t satisfied, and neither were most of the fans in Louisville, who cheered loudly when Kampmann said, “I think I won the fight.”

Diego Sanchez: Heart Led to Win over Martin Kampmann at UFC on Versus

Filed under: UFCLOUISVILLE, Ky. – When both the winner and loser wind up at the hospital after their main event, it’s pretty hard to argue against Fight of the Night.

Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann slugged their way to a bloody 29-28 unanimous dec…

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When both the winner and loser wind up at the hospital after their main event, it’s pretty hard to argue against Fight of the Night.

Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann slugged their way to a bloody 29-28 unanimous decision for Sanchez to close out the UFC’s debut in Kentucky, UFC on Versus 3, on Thursday. When the scores were read, many in the crowd appeared to be stunned at the decision. But perhaps no one was more surprised than Kampmann.

“Yes I did – I thought I won the fight,” Kampmann told Joe Rogan after the fight. “I think I won all three rounds. If you take a look at his face … I definitely feel I won the fight. I was throwing way more clean shots. Diego’s a tough warrior, but I’m very disappointed.”

Sanchez vs. Kampmann Earns Fight of the Night at UFC on Versus 3

Filed under: UFC, NewsLOUISVILLE, Ky. – The UFC handed out its customary post-fight bonus awards on Thursday following UFC on Versus 3. Four of its fighters are a little richer.

Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann each took home $60,000 extra for their…

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The UFC handed out its customary post-fight bonus awards on Thursday following UFC on Versus 3. Four of its fighters are a little richer.

Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann each took home $60,000 extra for their Fight of the Night performance in the main event at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville, Ky. The event was the UFC’s debut in Kentucky. Those totals were $20,000 extra, decided by UFC president Dana White.

Brian Bowles and Shane Roller each won $40,000 for their stoppage wins – Bowles for Submission of the Night, Roller for Knockout of the Night.

UFC on Versus 3 Main Event Breakdown: Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann

Filed under: UFCJust a few months ago, Martin Kampmann fought in arguably the most important match of his career. The UFC had just signed reigning Strikeforce middleweight champ Jake Shields, who was in the midst of a 14-fight win streak, and given him…

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Just a few months ago, Martin Kampmann fought in arguably the most important match of his career. The UFC had just signed reigning Strikeforce middleweight champ Jake Shields, who was in the midst of a 14-fight win streak, and given him to Kampmann. Shields had already been earmarked for a UFC welterweight title shot, and all he’d have to do is win a single fight.

The Danish fighter nearly foiled the plan. Kampmann frustrated Shields, out-landed him over the three rounds, managed a knockdown, and tried three submissions to Shields’ zero, but when the final decision came, it went in Shields’ favor.

To the UFC’s credit, they didn’t penalize Kampmann (17-4) for the controversial loss, giving him another high-profile fight, this time against Diego Sanchez at UFC on Versus 3.