The Ultimate Fighting Championship was in Norfolk, VA this past Saturday night for the first time in promotional history with UFC Fight Night 120: Poirier vs. Pettis. It was a solid night of scraps that saw five of 13 bouts end inside the distance, and with the action now in our rear view, let’s take a look at which of the evening’s competitors we may no longer see going to work inside the Octagon…
ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK
Diego Sanchez
Sanchez was knocked out by Matt Brown in the first round of action and he has now lost back to back fights by knockout. He is 1-3 in his last four, with all three defeats being knockouts. I don’t know whether the UFC will opt to release him from his contract now, but I think letting him go with be the right move, as I believe the 35-year-old should be hanging up the gloves for good. Should he get released, I think it is more likely we will see him in Bellator than in retirement, but I hope he makes the right call and walks away before he takes any more damage. He used to be very durable, but his chin is just not the same anymore. If he wants another fight, which he does, I’m afraid the UFC will oblige. I hope that’s not the case, but we’ll just have to wait and see how this one plays out.
Nate Marquardt
Marquardt is coming off a split decision loss to Cezar Ferreira and is now on a three-fight losing streak inside the Octagon. He is 3-8 since his return to the UFC, and following this past Saturday night’s defeat, I think there is a decent chance the promotion parts ways with him. Should that happen, I think Marquardt would opt to go over to Bellator rather than the unemployment line, as he has a relationship with Scott Coker, who used to be the president of Strikeforce, where Marquardt held the welterweight title. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the UFC keep him around for one more, though, and I would say that at this point, we are looking at a 50/50 situation. Either way, I don’t see Marquardt hanging up the gloves, so whether it will be inside the Octagon or the Bellator cage, expect to see the 38-year-old back in action in 2018.
