UFC on Versus 3: Diego Sanchez' MMA Odyssey

Who says you can't go home again? Certainly not Diego Sanchez.

Sanchez has been a polarizing figure throughout his mixed martial arts career. Perhaps not to the extent of Michael Bisping or Chael Sonnen, but without question Diego has been a source of divide in the MMA world. Where, however, Sonnen and Bisping are more or less loved or hated for their heel-like personalities, with Sanchez it is a different aspect of his personality that sets the spot's fans off. In the eyes of many, Diego is an out-and-out flake.

Is this a fair assessment of Sanchez? Perhaps not. Although, he has made it easy for his detractors to argue otherwise.

When we first met "Zen master" Diego Sanchez on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter, he was establishing himself as a somewhat unconventional individual: channelling the energy of a lightening storm is going to come off as eccentric under almost any circumstances.

As it eventually became clear, TUF was merely our introduction into the world of Diego Sanchez. Since that time his thoughts, actions and cartwheels have made it evident, this is Diego's journey and he's determined to take his own path. Now, as it turns out, that path has taken him home.

On Thursday night, Sanchez will headline UFC on Versus 3, in a matchup against Martin Kampmann. The bout will mark Diego's third fight in the welterweight division following his brief stint at lightweight.

Sanchez had made the move to the 155 division looking for a new beginning of sorts. Having lost two fights in a row, Diego was forced to do some soul-searching. His loss to Josh Koscheck had been particularly bitter. The build up to that fight had been filled with a hostility that dated back to the first season of TUF when Diego and Kos were housemates. It was Sanchez who had eliminated Koscheck in the semi-finals, on route to his overall victory as TUF champion.

With fan anticipation reaching a fever-pitch, the fight itself was a letdown. Instead of an all out war, it was a slow-paced striking match. In the end, it was Diego's first loss and it took some time for him to accept. Fans were to learn later that Sanchez had been dealing with health issues in the days leading up to the fight which had almost forced the bout's cancellation. In the days that followed, Sanchez was diagnosed with a severe staff infection.

Looking for redemption, Diego requested a matchup with top welterweight fighter, John Fitch. This was a much better showing for Diego and the bout was a hard fought battle. Unfortunately for Sanchez, he ended up on the wrong side of a split decision.

Although Sanchez displayed the size and the skill to be in the cage with Fitch, Fitch was able to use his size and power to frustrate and neutralize much of Diego's efforts. It was this realization which prompted his drop to the lightweight division.

It would not be fair to say that Sanchez' stint at lightweight was a bust. He fought three times, picking up two wins and a loss. One of those wins—his win over Clay Guida—earned fight of the night honours and was considered by many to be 2009's the fight of the year. But it is his loss that stands out in most people's minds when they think of Diego's career at lightweight.

When the question is posed online in MMA forums, "what is the worst one-sided beatdown in MMA history?" the fight that tops the list of many fans is the beating Diego Sanchez took from BJ Penn in their 2009 title fight. It was nothing short of a five round destruction that only mercifully ended when Sanchez sustained a deep cut on his forehead that forced the stoppage. It was the most brutal loss of Diego's career and the period that followed was a low point for him personally.

With the exception of the first round in the Clay Guida fight, Sanchez' performances at 155 were lacking the frenzied energetic pace that we had come to expect from his fights. Although slightly undersized at welterweight, the cut to lightweight was taking too much of a physical toll on Diego. He announced that he was moving back up to 170 and a fight with fast-rising prospect John Hathaway was booked for UFC 114.

As Sanchez explains now, he was coping with depression at the time of his fight with Hathaway. For his fans, however, it was his underwhelming performance that was depressing. Diego was never in the fight as Hathaway controlled things from start to finish. Fans could not help but question whether Diego's best days were behind him.

Sanchez states that it was his loss to Hathaway that forced him to acknowledge that what he was doing was not working, professionally or personally. His life was filled with too many distractions and so, in an attempt to simplify and refocus, Diego left the west coast for the pure mountain air of his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He also made another decision, which was to resume his training with Greg Jackson, in the gym where he got his start in MMA.

According to Diego the move has reawaken his spirituality. But the move has also breathed a new life into his career as a fighter. Sanchez entered his last fight against the very tough Paulo Thiago as the underdog. After getting off to a shaky start in the first round, Sanchez took over the the fight in the second, going on to win a unanimous decision.

In those last two rounds against Thiago, fans were treated to what can only be described as a return to form. Sanchez fought with the energy that had characterized his earlier performances in the UFC. It is a style that has won him a legion of fans and earned him a reputation as an exciting fighter with the potential to compete with the best.

Thursday night in Louisville, Ky, Diego Sanchez' journey will continue when he enters the cage against Martin Kampmann. Kampmann is difficult matchup for any welterweight, but it is a challenge that Sanchez feels he is prepared to face. With a new found sense of humility, Diego now recognizes that nothing in life is a given. Success as a fighter and as a person must be earned. For this reason, 'earn it' has become Sanchez' new mantra, which seem appropriate for him at this point in time.

Through hard work and dedication to the sport of MMA, Diego Sanchez has earned a place in the sport's top organization. Against Kampmann, Diego will fight to earn his place amongst the top fighters in the welterweight division.

Sanchez' decision to return home appears to be working for him. Will it lead to success in the cage against Kampmann? We'll have to wait and see. But win or lose, Diego should be proud of where he is in his life.

And if he wants to turn cartwheels while screaming "yes" at the top of his lungs, I say go for it Diego, you've earned it.