Sanchez out of UFC 135; Koscheck Tapped as Possible Replacement

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Diego Sanchez has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming bout with Matt Hughes, a welterweight contest which would have served as the co-main event of UFC 135.

“Diego Sanchez broke his hand,” UFC President Dana White wrote Monday on Twitter. “Looking for a replacement for Hughes.”

The news comes less than three weeks out from the event, which takes place Sept. 24 at Denver’s Pepsi Center. The pay-per-view-televised main card will be topped by a UFC light heavyweight title bout, as Jon Jones defends his 205-pound strap for the first time against ex-champ Quinton Jackson.

Shortly after White’s announcement, former title challenger Josh Koscheck revealed that he could be filling Sanchez’s shoes, pending approval from Hughes.

“Got a fight in 21 days, b----s,” wrote Koscheck. “Oh ya, 19 days then or something like that! Either way, it looks like I am in to fight Matt Hughes if he takes it?”

Sanchez, 29, has gone 2-1 since returning to the 170 pound division in May 2010. Following a decision loss to up-and-comer John Hathaway, the Greg Jackson student has notched back-to-back unanimous nods, outpointing Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann while earning “Fight of the Night” in both bouts.