The Fight Network Files: Ex-trainer comments on Sanchez's move north
UFC welterweight Diego Sanchez will be traveling to Toronto in the first week of September with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Saulo Ribeiro to teach seminars at Toronto BJJ. While there, Sanchez will train with revered Chute Boxe trainer Mauricio “Veio” Amado. Veio has instructed fighters Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Wanderlei Silva for years and has been credited with his contribution to the duo’s success in the PRIDE organization the past few years.
Sanchez (17-1) recently split from longtime New Mexico trainer Greg Jackson to train full-time with Ribeiro at the University of Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego after a lackluster decision loss to nemesis Josh Koscheck at UFC 69 in April – the first loss of his career. Sanchez cited a need to expand his training and a desire to reconnect with his son who lives in the Golden State as reasons for the move. Although some speculate Sanchez’s departure from Jackson’s Albuquerque-based training center had more to do with the team’s recent addition of former UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, Jackson denies this as the impetus for the 25-year-old’s decision.
“No. Georges and Diego have hung out and they both like each other. Diego wanted to reconnect with his son in California,” explains Jackson. “We love Diego and our door is always open to him but as far as Georges being one of the reasons for him leaving, that never came up.”
Sanchez is currently preparing for his Sept. 22 UFC 76 bout with Koscheck’s American Kickboxing Academy teammate Jon Fitch (14-2), who has not lost in four years.
Hazelett replaces Swick at UFN 11
Although the card for Oct. 20’s UFC 77 “Hostile Territory” will likely prosper from the infusion of homebred talent like Rich Franklin and Jorge Gurgel, at least one native Ohioan won’t be seen fighting in the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. Welterweight Dustin Hazelett (13-4) has been called to duty much earlier to face Canadian Jonathan Goulet (19-8).
The 21-year-old jiu-jitsu devotee has been offered a slot on Sept. 19’s UFC Fight Night at The Pearl inside the Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, filling in for an incapacitated Mike Swick, who injured his ribs during training, according to his coach Bob Cook. Goulet’s manager Ken Pavia confirmed the match-up was in negotiations Sunday, and that his side was receptive to the offer.
Known for his colorful hairstyles as much as for his striking savvy, Victoriaville’s Goulet, 28, rode a rollercoaster year, kicking off 2007 with a no-contest against Thomas Schulte (14-6) at TKO 28 in Montreal, then hitting a stumbling block with an unexpected submission loss to up-and-comer Jason Day at UCW 8 in June, and finally rebounding at July 14’s KOTC Canada with a TKO stoppage over Cory MacDonald (5-2).
Hazelett is 2-0 in the UFC since losing his octagon debut in October of 2006. A product of Gurgel’s academy in West Chester, Hazelett submitted Antrim’s Stevie Lynch in the first round at June 16’s UFC 72 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Sept. 19's UFC Fight Night is headlined by a lightweight bout between Kenny Florian and Din Thomas, and will air live on Spike TV at 9 p.m. EST/PST as a lead-in to the season premiere to "The Ultimate Fighter 6."
Rizzo’s reminder
A year ago, the mixed martial arts community had all but written off Pedro Rizzo. Saturday night, the Brazilian Muay Thai specialist jammed a lethal foot into the slamming door, knocking Jeff Monson (23-7) down with an overhand right midway through the third round of Undisputed Arena Fighting Championships' "Art of War 3" main event at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, to retain his IFA Heavyweight Championship title.
Much like the 20-something knockout machine that captivated crowds in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s earlier years, Rizzo (16-7) slowly simmered over the first two rounds of his mostly stand-up affair with world-class grappler Monson, allowing his familiar low outside right kick to take over in the nearly 13-minute bout’s latter moments. In the third, Rizzo’s onslaught reached a boil and split Monson’s upper lip wide open just prior to the dropping blow and the referee’s stoppage.
“After the first round, I said I had to take care of his hands. His hands are getting faster,” said the quiet 33-year-old. “When I started pressing him a little bit more [in the second round] I was seeing he was getting tired. Then, I say I was going to try and knock him out in the third or fourth round.”
A marriage and the birth of a baby girl has suited Rizzo. He rose at exponential speed as UFC 7 Champion Marco Ruas’ star pupil with spectacular knockouts over David “Tank” Abbott and Tra Telligman at UFC 18 and 20. But he then descended with consecutive losses to UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture at UFC 31 and 34. Following back-to-back losses in PRIDE Fighting Championships in 2005 and 2006, Rizzo’s peak was thought to have passed, but Saturday night told a different story.
Loretta Hunt covers mixed martial arts for The Fight Network. Additional Reporting By Derek Callahan, Mike Doyle, and Mike Russell. For the latest in MMA and boxing news, check out The Fight Network’s web site.