UFC on FUEL 8: Diego Sanchez Says He Would've Never Missed Weight in America

UFC on FUEL 8 co-headliner Diego Sanchez planned on making a triumphant return to the lightweight division against hometown hero Takanori Gomi tonight, but half of his plan was already foiled by the scale (per MMAJunkie.com). 

Even with a pound allowance, the Jackson's MMA fighter came in two pounds heavy at 158 pounds and felt he was unable to cut the additional weight. 

He now forfeits 20 percent of his fight purse to "The Fireball Kid," which he tweeted cost him a hefty $24,000. 

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Gomi better not be crying I missed weight, after I win because those 2 lbs cost 24 thousand dollars. If I could have cut it I would have :(

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 2, 2013"

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He also notes that Japan not having distilled water to drink is what did him in. 

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@hasslemma lesson learned what sucks is if I was in our country this would have never happened. Can you belive they don't have distilled h2o

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 2, 2013"

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Sanchez enters the fight 2-3 in his past five fights, though two of those losses came against welterweights Jake Ellenberger and John Hathaway. 

Sanchez has a 2-1 record at 155 pounds, earning a title shot against then-champion BJ Penn after two exciting victories over former divisional contenders Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida. 

However, he came up short in his title bid against "The Prodigy" with the cageside doctor calling off the fight in the middle of the fifth round due to a nasty cut over Sanchez's eye. 

After going 1-3 in his first four fights inside the Octagon, Gomi has rebounded with victories over Eiji Mitsuoka and Mac Danzig. 

Even with Sanchez missing weight, many pundits still have this lightweight scrap pegged as a shoe-in for "Fight of the Night." 

UFC on FUEL 8 takes place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, with the main-card action beginning at 10 p.m. EST.