UFC fighter Diego Sanchez moved up in weight in order to fight undefeated fighter John Hathaway at UFC 114. His move from lighweight (155 lbs.) to welterweight (170 lbs.) was something Sanchez wanted to do after his title fight loss to BJ Penn. Was it a bad move for Sanchez or was Hathaway just too much for him last Saturday night?
UFC President Dana White made a few comments on Diego’s UFC 114 performance, stating that he looked “slow and heavy” at 170 and preferred the more explosive Sanchez at 155. White strongly feels that Sanchez should work his way up the lightweight division despite his title fight loss to BJ Penn. He compares the young Mexican-American fighter to Kenny Florian who also lost to Penn, but is already on his way back up the 155-pound division.
Should Sanchez go back to fighting as a lightweight or should he just train harder for his next welterweight bout?
“I don’t think Diego belongs at 170. I think it’s easier to be at 170. He looked soft. He looked real lethargic and slow and heavy. [One] fifty-five, Diego. Fifty-five. He’s a tough guy. I’m not his manager, but I think he should stay at 155. Listen, a loss to B.J. Penn doesn’t mean you go back up to 170. It means you stay at 155 and you do what Kenny Florian did. You stay in there and keep grinding it out and beating the top guys, and you get back in line and work your way up to the top again. Diego does not look good at 170.”
