Will MMA Fighters Start Setting Up Their Own Fights Via Twitter?

Watch out Joe Silva—Twitter could make your job obsolete.

Diego Sanchez, who is coming off his devastating loss to B.J. Penn, recently reached out to Nate Diaz via Twitter with the following tweet:

"I agree you got robbed (referring the split-decision loss to Gray Maynard)... i hear your going up to 170 too i would love to welcome you to welterweight lets make it happen."

It seems neither Diaz nor Sanchez want anything to do with the 155 pound division, at least not right now. If B.J. Penn does make the move to welterweight, that could very well change.

But for now, Sanchez looks eager to set up his next fight, with Diaz, and Twitter looks like the quickest way to expedite the process.

Could Sanchez drive a trend amongst fighters looking to have an influence over who their next opponent will be...via social networking?

Despite all the tweeting, the first opponent of Nate Diaz may come by way of more conventional matchmaking.

According to MMA Junkie the Stockton, Calif.-based Diaz is expected to make his welterweight debut at UFC 111, where he could meet Rory Markham. With no fight finalized, it will be interesting to see if Sanchez's Twitter play pans out.

Sanchez posted another message of note on his Twitter account:

"YES IM GOING BACK TO WELTERWEIGHT IM LOVING MY NEW DIET. I WANT KOS OR FITCH BUT ANY TOP GUY WILL DO JUST WANT TO GIVE U FANS THE BEST FIGHT."

Sanchez has an 8-2 record at welterweight, with his two losses coming against Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch. Both were by way of decision, the one to Fitch being split.

In theory, if Sanchez were able to avenge either loss, it could certainly clear up who the second best welterweight in the UFC is...B.J. Penn.