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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC continues to fill up slots on their May cards, and the latest to head to the UFC 114 event in Las Vegas is the original Ultimate Fighter, Diego Sanchez. Making his return to welterweight following a loss to B.J. Penn in his shot at the UFC Lightweight Title, Sanchez will take on undefeated Brit John Hathaway.
Sanchez announced the fight on his Twitter account, stating, "finally got a opponent john hathaway he's 12-0 tough kid from the uk. we will be fighting may 29 in VEGAS!!!!! its on!!!"
Hathaway is 12-0 in his mixed martial arts career, including three straight victories in the Octagon. Following his UFC debut TKO victory over Thomas Egan, Hathaway picked up consecutive decisions over Rick "Horror" Story and Paul Taylor. All three of his UFC bouts have been on overseas cards, and this will mark his debut fight in the U.S.
Sanchez is 21-3 overall in his career, and those three losses have all come against top flight competition. After consecutive losses to Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch at welterweight, Sanchez won two more fights at 170 lbs. before making the drop to lightweight. After two exciting victories over Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida, Sanchez was awarded a Title shot against Penn. Unfortunately for him, he was no match for Penn in their bout, landing only eight punches while getting picked apart throughout the fight before ultimately getting opened up by a head kick, a cut which stopped the fight.
UFC 114 is set to take place on May 29th from Las Vegas, NV, and will feature the grudge match between Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.
Penick's Analysis: This will by far be the biggest test of Hathaway's career, as while Sanchez may have been completely outclassed by Penn, he's still a very good fighter. After cutting to 155 lbs. for three straight fights, a cut that may have been detrimental to his abilities, he will come into this a more rejuvenated fighter and hungrier than ever after getting so close to a Title. This is a very good match up and both fighters should challenge each other. It's also another exciting undercard fight for this event, which is looking to continue the UFC's string of great fights starting this spring to get out of the injury slump that has hampered down these early 2010 cards.
[Diego Sanchez photo provided to MMATorch courtesy Spike TV]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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