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[Tadd]

Out of action since a 21-second knockout loss at the hands of BJ Penn last November, Matt Hughes will return this fall to face former top welterweight contender Diego Sanchez.

The UFC made the announcement at its official site on Thursday morning, saying verbal agreements were in place for the fight. No official date or location has been announced for the fight.

Hughes (45-8, 18-6 UFC), a UFC Hall of Famer and one of the dominant champions in the sport's history, had won three straight prior to his quick loss to Penn at UFC 123, including a Fight of the Night grudge match win over Matt Serra and a Submission of the Night win over Ricardo Almeida.

After the loss to Penn, Hughes said he planned on taking time off to work on his farm in rural Illinois, hunt and be with his family. No stranger to long layoffs, Hughes has gone nearly a year between fights twice in the last three years.

Sanchez is coming off a controversial unanimous decision win over Martin Kampmann at UFC on Versus 3 last month. It was his second straight win and second straight Fight of the Night performance after a two-fight skid that saw him suffer a TKO loss to Penn for the lightweight title at UFC 107 and a return to welterweight to an upset loss to John Hathaway at UFC 114.

Sanchez was the Season 1 middleweight title winner on "The Ultimate Fighter" and has said he's a renewed fighter since rejoining Greg Jackson's team in New Mexico.

UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes Meets Diego Sanchez This Fall -- MMA Fighting

[Sakara=Excitement]

Well, well, well.

[CHAEL fan]

Country Boy Can Survive >>>> The Dream

[Tadd]

I think Hughes will take this by decision. Diego is faster but Hughes will be able to take him down and hold him down with his size advantage.
I guess this squashes any hopes of Alves/Sanchez or Royce getting his rematch.

[Cat--Smasher]

I like this fight. If Deigo wins he will definately be starting to build his case as a contender in the division.

[dan the man 67]

I think Diego takes this, and rather easily. I hope I am wrong.

[mmawolverine]

wow, im alittle shocked right now, i might have to break into alitlle wall squat and meditate for an hour till my quads bust, i think this is matt hughes fight to win and to lose, diego will NOT knock hughs out and his sloppy standup will leave him open to all kinds of attack, i have matt hughes willing this bigtime FOTN with his old school wrestling and slams and then he can retire or face someone from the aka camp. by the way didnt diego look fat in the kampman fight and his cardio wasnt really there very different from his prior win over paulo thiago im actually very pumped for hughes to beat someone up, its a strange feeling i feel my inner farmboy coming out, is that a corn husk in my pants or am i just happy to see my pizza arrive hot and fresh.