Diego Sanchez has harsh criticism for "boring" teammates at Jackson’s MMA
UFC Lightweight and Welterweight fighter Diego Sanchez recently spoke to the MMA Hour with some highly interesting comments regarding some of the controversial bouts in the UFC this year. This may not seem out of the ordinary, except for the fact that his criticisms fell upon his teammates at Jackson’s MMA. Specifically discussing Carlos Condit‘s victory over Nick Diaz and Clay Guida‘s loss to Gray Maynard, the always-exciting Sanchez has harsh criticism for the “elusive” style his teammates recently employed. Win or lose, Sanchez is known for leaving it all in the cage. He commented:
“I thought both of those fights sucked. My coaches might get mad at me for that, but that’s my opinion and I’m allowed to have my opinion. I thought Nick Diaz won the fight with Carlos. When you’re not engaging and you’re not fighting, that takes away what this sport is. That’s my opinion, that’s why I want to fight someone like the Diaz boys who will come and step in front of you and fight you.”
Sanchez does come the Octagon looking to go toe-to-toe, and sometimes it may not be the best gameplan for him. Sometimes it is. Regardless, we know he will put on an exciting fight for the fans, something that was sorely lacking this summer in MMA until last weekend’s monumental UFC on Fox 4 card, which featured all finishes on the main card. Sanchez continued on:
“I guess that’s all opinion, but the fans, they have my back on this, and that’s what fighting’s all about. It’s for the fans, and Dana White knows this. That’s why he gets so pissed off when there’s crappy fights like that. Us as fighters, we must step it up if we want to get taken care of and get paid right and grow this fight into the biggest spot in the world, above all other sports, we have to get in the cage and we have to leave it all in the cage every time.”
Sanchez may gain some heat for throwing his teammates under the bus, but he at least speaks his mind. Many fans regarded the two bouts in question as boring, accusing both Condit and Guida of running away from their respective opponents. And ultimately, it is about the fans who spend their hard-earned money to watch the UFC fighters come and perform. They obviously don’t want a boring fight where one side is unwilling to engage. Still, Sanchez has high regard for his coaches at Jackson’s, saying:
“Don’t give Greg and Coach Wink the hard rap. There’s so many Jackson fighters like me, guys like Jon Jones, there’s so many guys who are just straight-up warriors, who leave everything in the cage.”
Sanchez also spoke of his move down to Lightweight after he recovers from shoulder surgery, noting that he appreciate a fight with the exciting Nate Diaz. Sanchez may be controversial, but fans do want to see the kind of fights he puts on. Is this elusive, gameplanning style of fighting beginning to plague MMA with examples like this?
