MMA Combat - Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes – An interesting decision

MMA Combat - Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes – An interesting decision



UFC President Dana White announced Thursday, April 28, that Diego Sanchez (23-4-0) will square off against UFC legend Matt Hughes (45-8-0) in a welterweight match this fall, although no specific event or date has been determined.

Diego "The Dream" Sanchez

Matt Hughes last competed at UFC 123 – Rampage vs. Machida, where he was knocked out in 21 seconds by a free-swinging B.J. Penn; prior to that bout the Hillsboro, Il. native compiled three consecutive wins against the likes of Matt Serra, Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida, and owns a record 18 career victories inside the octagon.

Sanchez, a Team Jackson representative out of Albuquerque, New Mexico has posted back-to-back wins, including a controversial unanimous decision over Martin Kampmann this past March, but a win nonetheless. “The Dream” is 2-1 since returning to welterweight ranks and has been stopped inside the distance only once in 27 professional appearances.

Why Matt Hughes though? This fight puzzles me for a couple reasons; Diego has been outspoken on his twitter account regarding his desire to face someone coming off a win or with considerable standing in the UFC’s welterweight division; fans have called for Thiago Silva, Carlos Condit, even a rematch with John Hathaway makes sense. At one time, Matt Hughes was as big as it got, but today the 37 year-old Midwest farmer is no longer in the prime of his career.

If styles make matches, this one has all the makings of a stalwart. Diego is more than adequate standing, but has never shown the kind of dynamism demonstrated by the sport’s top strikers. Although Hughes is more vulnerable to the knockout today than in years past, he still possess the kind of defense that should handle Diego’s onslaught. With his strength and wrestling pedigree, I expect Hughes to challenge Sanchez in the wrestling department as well, while holding his own in the submission exchanges.

This is the kind of fresh challenge that could bring out the best in Matt Hughes; should the 13-year veteran of the sport regain the conditioning that made him a terror early in his career, it’s quite possible he could stifle “The Dream’s” momentum at 170lbs.

For Sanchez, there is far more on the line here… A loss would drop his stock significantly at welterweight and he has already expressed the desire to avoid a cut back down to 155lbs. Sanchez like many before him, may find himself as one of those men simply not afforded the opportunity to fight at a weight best suited to his frame; but not to worry, his entertainment value has secured his job for some time to come.


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