FACEBOOK TWITTER RSS APP PODCAST Opinion & Analysis : Hyden's Take HYDEN BLOG: Quick Thoughts On Diego Sanchez, Brock Lesnar, and Takanori Gomi vs. Kenny Florian

Jan 22, 2010 - 1:19:37 PM
By Frank Hyden, MMATorch Contributor
So Diego Sanchez is moving back to Welterweight? The first question I have is, does Diego think he has a better chance of beating Georges St. Pierre rather than B.J. Penn? Perhaps there's something to that. GSP has beaten B.J. twice, but styles make fights. We can only assume that Diego thinks his style matches up against GSP better than it does against B.J. As to whether or not Diego's right, we can only wait for that answer. I personally think that GSP will beat Diego as soundly as he beat B.J.

Another reason for Diego moving back to Welterweight might be the weight. To get down to Lightweight, Diego had to cut a lot of weight. He may have decided it wasn't worth it, or he might not feel as healthy at 155 lbs. It could just be that he doesn't want to face B.J. again. I doubt that's the reason, though, as GSP won't be any easier. Whatever the reason might be, the Welterweight division is a bit tougher, and the Lightweight division is a bit weaker now.

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I was really glad to hear the news that Brock Lesnar would be returning to the UFC this Summer. The Heavyweight division wouldn't be the same without him. He gets people talking, and he's a big name. I'm glad he's healthy, and able to come back. However, Brock can be such a jackass. Was it really necessary to take that cheap shot at Canadian healthcare? I know some guys from Canada, and they love their healthcare system. Not to turn this into an off-topic debate, but it's easy for Brock to complain when he's got the money to see whatever doctor he wants. Not everyone is as lucky as he is. Statements like that do help make Brock a bigger attraction because people will pay to see him get his ass kicked. However, that only works as long as he doesn't get his ass kicked. If he loses a few times, people are just going to stop caring about him. He certainly makes for entertaining television, though.

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Takanori Gomi vs. Kenny Florian at UFC Fight Night 21 should be a really good fight. I hope it comes off, it'd serve as a great lead-in to the 11th season of The Ultimate Fighter. I'm not particularly interested in TUF, but I'll still watch, of course. It's not appointment viewing generally, but it is a better alternative to watching some college basketball on ESPN or something. Back to Gomi vs. Florian, this could be the start of Florian getting a rematch against B.J. Penn, or Gomi getting his rematch with B.J. I know that Gomi has lost a a few fights, though he has won his last two, but I still feel as though he can make a comeback. I'm rooting for Kenny, and I think he can beat Gomi in this fight. However, I don't think that means that Gomi is done or washed up. My pick speaks more to my high regard for Kenny Florian, rather than a dismissal of Takanori Gomi.

You can e-mail me at hydenfrank@gmail.com or follow me at twitter.com/hydenfrank

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