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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Diego Sanchez has now been in the UFC for over a decade, debuting in April of 2005 by becoming the very first winner of The Ultimate Fighter. Ten years and several divisional shifts later, Sanchez remains on the roster, and he's planning yet another move late in his career.
In an interview with MMAJunkie.com, Sanchez says that he's heading to the 145 lb. division, and wants to become the first fighter to win a UFC fight in four different divisions.
"I'm going down to 145 lbs. I think there's some great fights down there at 145," Sanchez said. "Even right away, I'm going to be a force in the division – right away. And I know all the 145-pounders are, 'Oh, that's if you make weight. If Diego can make weight.' That's what they're going to be saying. But, you know what? I'm going to do it. I'm going to make weight, and I'm going down to this division.
"The weight started coming off so fast, and one month in, I was already down to 170 pounds. I was basically as lean as I am going into a fight at 155. So I'm like, 'Alright, I'm not even in the gym, and I'm able to get this lean right now – 145 is realistic now.' I weighed out all the positives and the negatives. As a positive, I want to be one of the UFC fighters – Kenny Florian is the only UFC fighter to compete in four divisions, but he didn't win at 185. But he competed in four divisions. I want to be the one that actually wins [in four divisions]."
Sanchez names Clay Guida and Ricardo Lamas specifically as possible opponent ideas, but ultimately says his goal is to challenge for that division's title.
"I'll fight any of those guys at 145 lbs.," Sanchez said. "I want to make a run for the belt. That's my dream, to be the UFC champion, and I'm not going to give up on my dream, despite what the haters or the naysayers may say.
"I'm going down to 145, and I'm going for the belt."
Penick's Analysis: Sanchez has fought six times in the last four and a half years, and though he's technically won three of those, it's easy to argue he should be winless in that stretch, as each of his decision wins were heavily contested. In the case of his last fight with Ross Pearson, it's widely regarded as one of the worst robbery decisions in UFC history. He may think he's got a title run in him, but emaciating himself further to make 145 lbs. doesn't mean he's going to have more success than he was having at 155 lbs. and 170 lbs. I'm honestly not sure what interest there is in seeing him fight at featherweight.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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