After Brief Stint at 145 Pounds, Diego Sanchez Announces Return to Lightweight

Losing weight will not be one of Diego Sanchez’s New Year’s resolutions.

The longtime UFC veteran announced via Twitter on Tuesday that he will return to the lightweight division following his loss to Ricardo Lamas at 145 pounds in November.

“My next fight will be at 155,” he wrote. “It was a bit [too] much weight to cut without the IVs.”

Sanchez is referencing the U.S. Anti-Doping agency policy, which bans the use of IVs for fighters to rehydrate following weigh-ins. Sanchez made weight without issue ahead of UFC Fight Night in Monterrey, Mexico, tipping the scales at 145 pounds exactly, but he dropped a three-round verdict to Lamas the next day.

The 33-year-old Jackson-Wink MMA representative has fought 22 times in the Octagon since his appearance on the inaugural season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” During that time he has competed at 185, 170, 155 and 145 pounds. He arguably had his greatest success at lightweight, as he challenged for the belt against B.J. Penn at UFC 107 in December 2009.