Welterweight contender Diego Sanchez has never been shy in expressing his desire for a fight with UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes. This fall, Sanchez will get his wish, as he faces the legendary two-time welterweight champ on a date and at a venue to be announced.
“A matchup between two welterweight fan favorites has been verbally agreed to as Diego “The Dream” Sanchez will face former UFC welterweight champion and Hall of Famer Matt Hughes,” said UFC President Dana White. “Sanchez is coming off of a Fight of Night winning performance against Martin Kampmann and Hughes is looking to add another great victory to his incredible UFC career.”
Wow, heck yeah! Great fight. I think this is a tough match up for Hughes. While Diego's takedowns are so so, he is actually very very good on the ground. He went at it for 3 hard rounds on the ground with Nick Diaz (among others) and won. Plus while his standup isn't top-of-the-class it's much better than Hughes's rockem sockem robot impression.
I think Diego's chin, decent boxing and legit ground game will give Hughes problems. That being said you can never count Hughes out. I thought Almeida would be a tough fight for him and he just waxed Ricardo. I'll be pulling for Hughes all the way. Diego is just a bit too nutty for me to take.
Wow, heck yeah! Great fight. I think this is a tough match up for Hughes. While Diego's takedowns are so so, he is actually very very good on the ground. He went at it for 3 hard rounds on the ground with Nick Diaz (among others) and won. Plus while his standup isn't top-of-the-class it's much better than Hughes's rockem sockem robot impression.
I think Diego's chin, decent boxing and legit ground game will give Hughes problems. That being said you can never count Hughes out. I thought Almeida would be a tough fight for him and he just waxed Ricardo. I'll be pulling for Hughes all the way. Diego is just a bit too nutty for me to take.
Matt deserves credit for taking this fight instead of pushing for Royce. He has all the tools to win this IF he can match Diego's pace. That was never a problem before but I don't know how serious Matt is these days. Should be 3 rounds of GnP for an easy decision.
No way will Diego be able to keep up with Hughes' skills. Matt is the superior wrestler, has the superior TDs and better ground game. Diego's poor striking is still better than Matt's though. I don't see Diego stopping Hughes' shot or being able to get out from under him
Diego Sanchez by youth.
Althogh Hughes is the more skilled fighter I see Sanchez being too much for him. better cardio, better speed better striking vs better wrestling & groundgame, but thats just on paper. I think Sanchez will stop Hughes takedows long enough to tire him and then win on the feet.
Diego by mean stare. This fight doesn't make much sense. Diego has been building momentum against solid contenders in Thiago and Kampmann, while Hughes seems to be on a decline. Not that I'm writing Hughes off, this could easily go either way. I'll pick Diego to win at the moment.
i hope hughes finishes this fight.the only thing i doubt about hughes is his chin. i would love to see him tap out "the dream"....i absolutely hate that guy!
I think this is an interesting match up and is probably what both of these guys need. Hughes needs this fight to tell him if he can still hang, and Diego needs this because it will tell him if he is really evolving. I can't decide who I think will win, but I will be rooting for Hughes. I think this fight is still winnable by either of these men.
I don't think Hughes needs this fight to tell him if he can still hang, he shouldn't anyway. He knows he has no chance of beating anyone in the upper levels of the WW div anymore like GSP, Fitch, Kos, Penn. He can beat pseudo cans like Serra and Renzo Gracie. Guys in the upper middle class of the WW div like Sanchez or Kampmann he loses to most of the time, but has a small chance of beating if they get careless. Pretty easy win for Sanchez I think, Hughes is just too old and too old school.
Hughes takes this fight all night long. Diego could get a flash knock out but I don't see Hughes taking chances after the BJ fight. Hughes will take Diego down by being the better wrestler, he will then keep him there or finish him by being the better grappler. Don't kid yourself Diego won't be setting the pace in this fight. Almedia and Serra are both superior grappler's to Sanchez and Hughes out grappled both.
Also just remember that not only was BJ Penn working with Matt Hughes before the Fitch fight, that goes both ways and Matt Hughes was also working with BJ Penn.
I can't believe how many people think Diego is going to take this fight. Matt Hughes will win this fight via either GNP or Sub. No way Hughes loses to diego.
1. Diego's striking is NOT that good. Definitely not good enough to KO Hughes.
2. Hughes has superior wrestling which will make Diego's a non factor.
3. Although Diego has good cardio, so does Hughes. I've never even seen Hughes tired. The cardio won't be a factor and I'm suprised thats even been brought up.
Gotta agree with Toxic here. Paulo Thiago was beating Diego pretty decisively before he gassed. Thiago was probably busy counter-terroristing or something and couldn't come in in-shape.
I always thought Hughes would smash 2/3rds of the AKA boys and thought he'd decisively beat Sanchez, crazy that none of those fights have happened till now.
Tough fight for Hughes. It would be awesome to see Hughes come out and show his old dominance against and smash Diego into the ground with one of Hughes classic slams.
I disagree that Hughes is too "old school." Hell, I think his biggest problem is that he isn't going old school on people. Instead of going to some sweet takedown attempts, and slamming the shit out of people, he's trying to box with them (which he sucks at) and goes for takedowns when he gets rocked.
I see Hughes out-grappling Diego all day. Diego's pace wont matter when he's on his back. Shame. Diego has really grown on me the last two fights and Hughes...ugh...I like him the best when he's on the end of BJ's fist.
While I do think Hughes is capable of getting the takedown I think he will have a harder time doing it than others have said. I also don't think he has anything to offer standing. Now, Diego doesn't necessarily have the best boxing skills either but if there's one thing he has proved its that he has a solid chin - Kampmann was beating the shit out of him standing and Diego still kept coming forward.
I also think Diego's pace will be too much for Hughes.
Diego wins this via TKO or UD all day. He is way better at WW and as awesome as Hughes was that was years ago. He is 37 and is coming off a brutal KO loss to Penn.
The only way Hughes has a chance is if he can continuously take Diego down and stay busy for 3 whole rounds...I just don't see it happening guys :dunno:
I know he is old slowing down but I take hughes in this fight if he fights smart. Quick takedown and ground and pound. If he tries to stand and trade like he did in the BJ fight then he is going to get koed because his chin is going away with age.
Diego always goes to war, i hope Matt is ready for it. I do hope Diego takes this one decisively, Hughes is on his way out and Diego could use a victory like this.
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