John McCarthy believes Kevin Lee vs. Diego Sanchez is a mismatch, but he does see one way that Sanchez could win.
Lee (18-7) and Sanchez (30-13) are expected to square off in an Eagle FC event on March 11, which will mark both menās first fight since parting ways with the UFC.
McCarthyās concern mainly lies with the fact that Lee is still only 29, whereas Sanchez turns 40 on Friday and has suffered quite a bit of damage in his recent losses. Sanchezās departure from the UFC was sparked by his former manager, Joshua Fabia, requesting his medical records, which prompted the UFC to pull Sanchez from a May 8 fight against Donald Cerrone due to concerns over his health.
āDiegoās been just a warrior, heās an incredible guy, I love him, but here comes the speed,ā McCarthy said on his āWeighing Inā podcast. āSpeed creates problems and in the standup, Diego has an unusual style. It will give Kevin some problems, but if Kevin gets on a rhythm on him, itās gonna be tough for Diego. Diego, itās gonna be very tough for him to get Kevin down, and if heās on the ground with Kevin, heās gonna be great. Itās when heās on the feet with him absorbing damage, thatās not gonna be good, and itās the speed factor that makes the big difference here.ā
He continued, āDiegoās done a ton in the sport of MMA, and heās had some great times. Heās had some hard times. I just donāt wanna see him going out with him being the guy ā it was kind of that way with his last fights in the UFC. They were trying to use his name to get other guys over. You know, get that victory against the guy who is the legend of the sport, the guy thatās been there forever, the guy who won āThe Ultimate Fighter 1.ā And I donāt know, I donāt think itās a good fight.ā
Lee has endured a rough patch himself having lost four of his past five fights, but heās looked fairly competitive in most of those losses. But the one wrinkle that has continued to fail him is his cardio, and McCarthy thinks if Sanchez can weather an early storm, perhaps he can get him to the ground and go to the area where he does his best work.
āIāll watch it. Iām not saying I wonāt,ā McCarthy said. āI just donāt think that the matchup at this point in their careers is a fair matchup. I think Diegoās gotta get the fight down. If he gets the fight down, he can definitely win the fight. Other than that, heās gonna have a hard time.ā
Who is training Diego now?
He did not look good under Fabiaā¦just weird and slow motion.
So a guy employed by a company that had Ken Shamrock do fixed fights on isnāt happy with another organizations match upā¦
Scott Coker would sign that fight tomorrow if he could
Get the fuck out of here!
Diego should no longer be licensed to compete.
Is anyone in favor of booking this fight?
I donāt talk shit often but fuck, John McCarthy needs to shut the fuck up or start being more positive.
For the past few years he has been nothing but an old Karen. Loud mouth bitching about everything.
If you donāt have anything positive to say about the sport or the fighters then shut the fuck up.
John is such an arrogant cunt.
Why not? Two older fighters trying to make money to feed their families?
Or did you forget that fighters donāt fight for your amusement, they fight for money. To pay for bills.
Whoop that ass Diego!!
McCarthy is right. Lee/Diego should not be happening.
Who wants to see this fight anyways?
Kevin Lee might be that guy to figure out a way to lose. On paper itās a slaughter.
A combo of all. McCarthy is a terrible announcer and very negative in general. Diego should also not fight again.
yes
yes
yes
yes
McCarthy needs to STFU
I second this.
Kevin Lee is 29. He isnāt āolderā and he isnāt far removed from actually being a relevant contender. Diego on the other handā¦