Previously, we reported that UFC veteran and lightweight fan favorite Jorge Gurgel has severed ties with the MMA organization and consequently signed up a multi-fight deal with California-based Strikeforce.  "It's not a happy moment," Gurgel said of leaving UFC.  "It's very humiliating, and it's a crushing of my childhood dream."

In possibly related news, UFC welterweight and The Ultimate Fighter first season winner Diego Sanchez hinted at dropping to Gurgel's division in, on all of places, his MySpace bulletin.  Nicknamed “Nightmare,” Sanchez made his debut in 2002 and his UFC debut upon being selected as a contestant on the first season of the reality show.  When he won a fight against Kenny Florian, he acquired a contract with the UFC.

"I'm training hard and will be dropping down to fight at 155 (pounds)," Sanchez wrote in the bulletin.  "I will keep you all posted."

Reached for a comment, Sanchez's manager Jeff Clark said it was actually up to the organization to decide the Mexican-American's fate, but that he is open to compete at either division – 170 or 155 pounds.  "Basically it's just kind of up to the UFC in deciding where they want him at,” the manager said.  "The UFC hasn't said anything good, bad or indifferently about it.  Diego just said call the UFC and let them know I can fight at either (weight class)."

Sanchez didn't start off the 2007 fight season on a good note, suffering the first two losses of his career with a 0-2 card.  He lost in a unanimous-decision defeat to Josh Koscheck and a split-decision loss to Jon Fitch.  Previously, UFC President Dana White actually revealed that Sanchez was on the verge of retirement because of suspicion of Hepatitis C – rumors that were to be debunked later on.


-Glenn L. Diaz, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: MMA Junkie
(Image Courtesy of UFC)