Diego Sanchez vs. Jon Fitch Expected at UFC 76

BlingDogg · 07-07-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Rising welterweight contender Jon Fitch (14-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) could put his spotless UFC record on the line with a fight against Diego Sanchez (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) at UFC 76.

Early this morning, a reliable source close to one of the fighters told UFCjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, MMA news, UFC rumors, UFC gossip, fighter interviews and event previews and recaps - UFCjunkie.com) that the fight is in the works and expected to take place at UFC 76 on Sept. 22. The bout would be on the main card, and according to our source, may even be billed as a co-main event.

Fitch, who most recently defeated Roan Carneiro at UFC Fight Night 10 last month, has won 13 straight fights — which includes a remarkable six-fight win streak in the UFC. The American Kickboxing Academy team member hasn’t lost a professional bout in nearly five years.

The former captain of the Purdue University wrestling team has faced a solid roster of 170-pounders during his streak, but Sanchez would likely be Fitch’s toughest test to date.

Sanchez, of course, has been involved in a rash of recent headlines. Since Sanchez’s loss to Josh Koscheck at UFC 69, rumors of potential bouts with PRIDE standout Hayato Sakura and UFC legend B.J. Penn have both fizzled out — and the rumors may have come from none other than Sanchez himself. (Last month, for example, UFCjunkie.com confirmed with an Albuquerque TV station that its Sanchez vs. Sakura report actually resulted from information they received directly from Sanchez.)

If the fight with Fitch does take place, Sanchez would have no easy road back to title contention. Taking into account his loss to Koscheck and the UFC’s extremely crowded 170-pound division, Sanchez’s need for a win is pretty much a requirement at this point. The middleweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter 1 was expected to get a title shot had he beaten Koscheck back in April.

Instead, he suffered a unanimous-decision loss. Afterward, it was revealed he had been suffering from a nasty staph infection that nearly prompted his early retirement from the sport. Now healthy, he’s looking to reclaim that title shot.

The 170-pound championship picture, though, is currently on hold. Welterweight champion Matt Serra will fight former champ Matt Hughes at the conclusion of The Ultimate Fighter 6 (most likely at a pay-per-view event on Dec. 29), and the winner of that fight has been told he will face the winner of Josh Koscheck vs. Georges St. Pierre (who meet at UFC 74) sometime in early 2008.

The soonest Fitch — or Sanchez — could fight for the belt is mid-2008.

In any manner, UFC 76 is expected to take place in Anaheim, Calif. on Sept. 22. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Evan Tanner are also expected to fight at the event, though their opponents are not yet known.

Just a rumor as of now.

source: UFCjunkie.com Exclusive: Diego Sanchez vs. Jon Fitch Expected at UFC 76 -- UFC news at UFCjunkie.com

BlingDogg · 07-07-2007, 11:35 AM

I see Sanchez winning via GnP. Fitch is real good, but I see him being outclassed by Sanchez.

Corey · 07-07-2007, 11:36 AM

I think sanchez would beat fitch as well. Would be one hell of a match though.

jm1010 · 07-07-2007, 11:52 AM

This would be a great fight. I can see Sanchez winning, but I think Fitch will find a way to win. I really hope this happens, could be a dandy.

Kurtis636 · 07-07-2007, 12:00 PM

The welterweight division is crazy! There's about 50 possible matchups I want to see in that division. Fitch v. Sanchez is going to be a war.

bayouboy · 07-07-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlingDogg

I see Sanchez winning via GnP. Fitch is real good, but I see him being outclassed by Sanchez.

Agreed

thepsycho · 07-07-2007, 12:17 PM

great fight,both could win but ill take sanchez!

Gooner · 07-07-2007, 12:31 PM

It's a UFC-junkie rumor at this point, but if this fight does happen, I'll love it.

They wouldn't be giving Diego an easy fight after his loss, and finally Fitch would get an opponent with a bigger name.

I see Fitch taking this one. I've ranked Fitch over Diego for quite a while now, and I think his wrestling would be enough against Diego, and he would use his longer reach and better striking to beat Diego.
Not a sure thing by any means, but I'm picking Fitch in this one. IF it happens.

theEmpiric · 07-07-2007, 12:51 PM

fitch all the way. i do not think sanchez is 100% mentally after his loss to the blanket.

IrishRage · 07-07-2007, 12:56 PM

AWESOME AWESOME!!! Hopfully this holds true But I can't wait for Jon finch to get a chance to truly prove himself to a national audience . I will be pulling for Jon In this fight I will be putting money on him If this fight goes down . This Is the best news I have heard In awhile .

Yet a another great find from a Fightforum member thanks alot .

Elder · 07-07-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gooner

It's a UFC-junkie rumor at this point, but if this fight does happen, I'll love it.

They wouldn't be giving Diego an easy fight after his loss, and finally Fitch would get an opponent with a bigger name.

I see Fitch taking this one. I've ranked Fitch over Diego for quite a while now, and I think his wrestling would be enough against Diego, and he would use his longer reach and better striking to beat Diego.
Not a sure thing by any means, but I'm picking Fitch in this one. IF it happens.

I agree. If Fitch fights Diego intelligently, he will probably win it.

HaVoK · 07-07-2007, 01:35 PM

This is a fight I would love to watch, I just really like both fighters and don't want to see either one come away with a lose. If it happens, its going to be a brutal fight.

earvinarp · 07-07-2007, 01:37 PM

Sanchez will do what he did with Parisyan. He made a mistake with Koscheck but you cannot bury the guy yet.

FatCat · 07-07-2007, 01:48 PM

I defintely see Sanchez taking this one. Fitch is good, but he doesn't possess the elite athleticism of a Koscheck. That (athleticism) plus an airtight gameplan was what kept Kos out of harms way vs. Sanchez. I see Fitch following the same exact blueprint but I see Diego getting a takedown and winning by either GnP or submission.

OneTwoPunch · 07-07-2007, 01:54 PM

I think Snachez will be to overwhelming and a much better wrestler than Fitch. You can never count out Fitch, because he is a smart fighter and uses his skills to win fight, but I think Sanchez would drag him into dep water on the ground.

comucazi · 07-07-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gooner

It's a UFC-junkie rumor at this point, but if this fight does happen, I'll love it.

They wouldn't be giving Diego an easy fight after his loss, and finally Fitch would get an opponent with a bigger name.

I see Fitch taking this one. I've ranked Fitch over Diego for quite a while now, and I think his wrestling would be enough against Diego, and he would use his longer reach and better striking to beat Diego.
Not a sure thing by any means, but I'm picking Fitch in this one. IF it happens.

i agree with everything you say, his wrestling i think is better, he has better striking. i think fitch could win a decision

Anti-Sanchez · 07-07-2007, 04:47 PM

Would love to see this fight and would love to see Sanchez get the tar pounded out of him.

compcast · 07-07-2007, 06:54 PM

i think this will be a hell of a fight but i'm going with fitch.one thing i do know for sure is there are a bunch of contenders versus contender possible out there i rather watch instead of the so called #1 contender getting a fast title shot(matt hughes).

Pitbull · 07-07-2007, 07:02 PM

If this fight actually goes down, I'm picking Fitch.

I think Fitch has the edge in wrestling, striking, and possibly strength.

Diego would have to overcome all of that in order to win.

I could see Fitch winning by decision, and maybe (just maybe) a ground and pound TKO.

CounterPuncher · 07-07-2007, 08:28 PM

This would be a great fight, and I hope it happens. I think this fight would be close and could go either way, but I think that Fitch has a better chance of winning imo.