Late last year, Diego Sanchez suffered the first blowout loss of his career at the hands of BJ Penn. Sanchez suffered a devastating beatdown at the hands of then-UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn, and he quickly made the call to return to welterweight.
His welterweight return came against the undefeated John Hathaway at UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans pay-per-view. Would Sanchez return with a victory? Or, would Hathaway add another victory to his resume.
The result follows:
Diego Sanchez’s welterweight comeback was not a success. Hathaway beat him to nearly every punch, using his crisper striking and reach advantage to give Sanchez a world of problems on his feet. Hathaway also used his strength and takedown defense to neutralize the bulk of Sanchez’s takedown attempts, essentially rendering the original “Ultimate Fighter” neutral.
The most definitive moment of the fight came in round one, when Hathaway rocked Sanchez with a big knee. Hathaway pounced on the opportunity, but he could not finish Sanchez. The fight ultimately went to decision.
John Hathaway b. Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
