Diego Sanchez went back home for his fight against Paulo Thiago. The last few years, the Season 1 "Ultimate Fighter" middleweight champ lost his way and focus as he ennoyed his taste of stardom. Along that path, he also had a very public split with his trainer Greg Jackson. After suffering two straight losses, Sanchez decided it was time to bury the hatchet. He returned to his hometown Albuquerque, the site of Jackson's gym and tonight he looked like his old self. By the middle of the second, his relentless pace badly tired Thiago. Sanchez gets back on the horse with a unanimous decision victory, 30-26, 29-28 and 29-28, at UFC 121 in Anaheim.
"You know I was really humbled in the last two losses," Sanchez told UFC analyst Joe Rogan. "My motto for this camp was just earn it. I want to thank my team."
Update: Sanchez and Thiago got an extra $70,000 for their effort by nabbing the fight of the night bonus.
The first round actually went to Thiago on two-of-three scorecards. Sanchez looked too small for the Brazilian, who threw him away each time Diego looked for the takedown. Thiago also got the better of the standup. The key for Sanchez was pushing the action all five minutes. Things turned early in the second. Sanchez was able to close space and Thiago didn't make him pay.
Sanchez (22-4, 11-4 UFC) scored a takedown 35 seconds into the round and maintained top control for the next three minutes. When it rose to the feet, Sanchez threw Thiago on his shoulder, walked across the Octagon and screamed as he slammed him to the ground.
Before the final round, Sanchez's corner yelled "pressure, pressure, pressure." The fighter delivered. Sanchez scored an early takedown and eventually got Thiago's back. The rest of the round, Sanchez used a body lock to control Thiago (13-3, 3-3 UFC) in several different positions. In the final minute, Sanchez worked the full mount and landed some heavy shots. One of the judges scored it 10-8 in the final stanza.
Before the fight, Sanchez was debating whether he should return to the 155-pound weight class. This was a solid win that might keep him around at welterweight.
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