Josh Koscheck Replaces Diego Sanchez, Faces Matt Hughes At UFC 135

Veteran welterweight returns to the face after long recovery

Josh Koscheck has agreed to replace the injured Diego Sanchez and will face Matt Hughes in the co-main event of UFC 135.

The event takes place Sept. 24 at the Pepsi Center in Denver. A light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson headlines the card.

Sanchez broke his hand during a training session on Monday, forcing him to withdraw from the bout. The Team Jackson fighter expressed his dismay in missing the fight on Monday night.

“I am heartbroken that I have to inform MMA fans that I cannot fight Matt Hughes at UFC 135 later this month. I have never physically felt more prepared to compete than I felt for this fight, which makes this even more painful for me,” Sanchez said. “While I do not know right now when I will return, I want to assure all of the fans out there that I will be back in the Octagon as soon as I am 100 percent healthy.”

Koscheck has been out of action since losing to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 124 last December. Koscheck’s orbital bone was broken by St-Pierre during the fight, forcing him to have surgery and take time off.