Hand Injury Takes Sanchez Out of UFC 135. Opens Opportunity for Koscheck.

On September 9, news broke that TUF1 winner and former Lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez (23-4-0) was forced out of his scheduled Welterweight bout with former division champion Matt Hughes (45-8-0). With Sanchez out of the co-main event for UFC 135, the UFC had to look for another high profile opponent to take on the former champion Hughes. Almost immediately following the news of Sanchez's removal, Welterweight contender Josh Koscheck (15-5-0) stepped up announcing via Twitter that he would be more than willing to take act as a replacement on just nineteen days notice. This was a surprise to some with Koscheck being removed from action since his previous bout in December where he failed to claim the Welterweight title from reigning champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 124: St. Pierre vs Koscheck II. During his rematch with St. Pierre, Koscheck received immense damage to his right eye taking multiple jabs alone breaking his orbital bone and causing nerve damage in that area. Koscheck was already being scheduled to return to action at UFC 139 fighting at Middleweight for the first time since his UFC debut when he fought Chris Sanford on the TUF1 Finale in 2005. Looking to make a statement that he is back and ready to again take on the best in the division, Koscheck will look to do so with a win over one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. In this bout, Koscheck will be considered as the favorite with heavier hands that can knock out an opponent with one punch and is seen as the better wrestler of the two. With Hughes looking to soon leave the sport and do so with a win, and Koscheck wanting to make a statement in his awaited return, the winner will likely fight Sanchez when both are good and ready.