MMA News

Tag: diego sanchez

  • UFC Veteran Diego Sanchez Arrested After Alleged Gunfire On New Mexico Highway

    UFC Veteran Diego Sanchez Arrested After Alleged Gunfire On New Mexico Highway

    Diego Sanchez now finds himself caught up in a serious legal mess.

    According to KRQE News, Sanchez was arrested in Albuquerque on Thursday after allegedly firing a gun from a moving vehicle as it drove past the scene of a highway crash in New Mexico.

    Police intercepted the Jeep Gladiator shortly after the incident and confirmed that the former UFC lightweight title challenger was riding in the passenger seat. While he was taken into custody, the driver was not charged.

    Although Sanchez initially denied firing the weapon, he did tell officers there was a gun in the backseat on the driver’s side. However, when police searched the vehicle, they found three rounds near the passenger seat and a black handgun stuffed into the back pocket of the driver’s seat.

    The driver, who said he was simply giving the MMA veteran a ride home, told police that Sanchez fired the gun out of the window from the passenger seat and noted that the 43-year-old Albuquerque native began laughing during the incident.

    Diego Sanchez is now facing two criminal charges: a fourth-degree felony for allegedly shooting at or from a motor vehicle without causing bodily harm, and a misdemeanor count for the negligent discharge of a deadly weapon.

    Image courtesy: MMA Fighting

    When Did Diego Sanchez Last Fight In The UFC?

    Diego Sanchez secured his UFC contract in April 2005 by stopping Kenny Florian via TKO to become the inaugural middleweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 1. “Nightmare” quickly earned a reputation as one of the promotion’s most relentless fighters. His impressive run eventually led to his first UFC title shot against then-lightweight champion B.J. Penn at UFC 107 in December 2009, where he suffered a TKO loss.

    After an up-and-down run across multiple weight classes, Sanchez made his final Octagon appearance at UFC 253 in September 2020, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Jake Matthews.

    “Nightmare’s” last outing in combat sports came nearly three years later at BKFC: Knuckle Mania 3 in April 2023, where he suffered a loss to veteran boxer and future bare-knuckle champion Austin Trout.

    Diego Sanchez
    Image: UFC.com
  • UFC Legend Diego Sanchez To Make Boxing Debut On Rampage Jackson vs. Rashad Evans Undercard

    UFC Legend Diego Sanchez To Make Boxing Debut On Rampage Jackson vs. Rashad Evans Undercard

    Diego Sanchez, a beloved figure in UFC history, is transitioning to professional boxing, setting up a bout against fellow UFC veteran John Makdessi. 

    The fight is scheduled for the ICS Mania 1 card in Sanchez’s home state of New Mexico, marking a significant moment in his post-UFC career. Sanchez, known for his passionate fighting style and memorable moments in the Octagon, left the UFC in 2020 after a decision loss to Jake Matthews. 

    Since then, he’s continued to explore combat sports, including a decision loss to Kevin Lee in Eagle FC and a knockout loss to Austin Trout in a BKFC bout. In a recent interview, Sanchez expressed his excitement about his professional boxing debut, fulfilling a long-held dream. 

    “It’s a dream come true,” Diego Sanchez said to KRQE. “I was there when Johnny Tapia fought there and I always had the dream of fighting there and that was even before the dream I had of fighting. Later as I got older and I was in the UFC, I always worked hard to try and get the UFC there and it never happened. We know that the ghost of Johnny Tapia, I know he is going to be there, and yeah maybe he will be haunting our opponents.

    “I am ready to go in there and beat this dude with one hand, you know because this isn’t kickboxing, this isn’t the UFC,”  Sanchez explained. “I am going to put pressure, I am going to put pace, and I am going to fight for Albuquerque, I am going to fight for New Mexico. I am going to go in there and I am going to put it on this guy.”

    The ICS Mania 1 card will also feature a headline boxing rematch between former UFC light heavyweight champions Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans, reigniting their storied rivalry in a different combat realm. This event is setting up to be a nostalgic night for combat sports fans.

  • Sanchez On MMA Future Following Eagle FC Loss: “This Is Just The Start”

    Former UFC fighter Diego Sanchez seems optimistic about his fighting future despite a tough loss to Kevin Lee in his Eagle FC debut.

    Sanchez went toe-to-toe with the former UFC interim title challenger Lee at Eagle FC 46. He made his first appearance at 165 pounds after fighting at different weight classes throughout his career in MMA.

    Sanchez signed with Eagle FC following a controversial end to his UFC career. Despite being 40 years old, he showed up to fight week in good physical shape and challenged Lee in multiple facets of the bout.

    In a post-fight interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, Sanchez provided clarity on his future and sounded far from a defeated fighter.

    “My body’s starting to feel better and I’m just coming into form,” Sanchez said. “I think this is just the start of the comeback. I got these two other fights, and I only got three weeks on the mitts with my new coach Frank Lester. So we’re going to put some work in, develop some styles, develop some concepts and principles on our own and we’re gonna do good. We’re gonna come back and be victorious.”

    Sanchez is regarded as a pioneer in the sport after winning Season of The Ultimate Fighter. He has competed against some of the top fighters in the UFC, including BJ Penn and Gilbert Melendez.

    Sanchez has two more fights left on his deal with Eagle FC and appears willing to fulfill the terms of the contract.

    Sanchez suffered from a tough bout with COVID-19 and a split from controversial coach Joshua Fabia last year. However, he appears to be in good spirits ahead of his MMA return.

    Who do you want to see Diego Sanchez fight next in Eagle FC?

  • Archives: Sanchez Goes On Rant After Kevin Lee Misses Weight (2020)

    Two days ago, Kevin Lee successfully made weight and defeated Diego Sanchez at Eagle FC 46 in a 165 lbs. catchweight bout. Two years ago, Sanchez blasted Lee for missing weight ahead of his bout against Charles Oliveira. Oliveira would go on to get the victory anyway, but not before Sanchez gave Lee a piece of his mind.

    The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2020, 7:33 PM]

    Headline: Diego Sanchez Goes On Rant After Kevin Lee Misses Weight For UFC Brasilia

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Diego Sanchez is not happy that IV use is banned for weight cuts under USADA.

    Ever since the UFC introduced USADA for its anti-doping measures, it has made an impact. Whether you like it or hate it, USADA is here to stay and has been since 2015. While some have praised USADA for keeping fighters clean, others have bashed the agency for being inconsistent with punishments as it pertains to victims of tainted supplements.

    Diego Sanchez Blasts USADA’s IV Ban

    Another result of USADA being put in place by the UFC is the ban on IV’s for weight cutting. After Kevin Lee missed weight once again for UFC Brasilia, Sanchez posted a rant on Instagram on how the IV ban has negatively affected fighters.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9rux5gJfse/

    “Another main event misses weight and he will win.. I have been saying it for years weight cutting is bullsh*t it’s bad for the fighters health! Why no change? Why no hydration tests? If your going to allow weight cutting then you should definitely allow IV’s it’s impossible to rehydrate adequately! Therefore creating a unfair place for competition where some guys don’t give a f*ck and use IV’s anyway.”

    Weight cutting has been an issue in the world of combat sports for years and it’s unlikely that a universal solution will come anytime soon. Promotions such as ONE Championship have tried to mitigate the issue by ensuring that drastic weight fluctuations are banned and will result in an automatic bout cancelation. There are still measures in place to negotiate a catchweight if a fighter is hydrated but has failed to make the limit by half a pound. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has praised the system put in place by ONE Championship.

    Whether or not the UFC ever utilizes such a system remains to be seen. While ONE’s main goal when it comes to weigh-cutting has been to eliminate dehydration, it’s still an issue for most other MMA promotions.

  • Eagle FC 46 Results & Highlights: Kevin Lee Tops Diego Sanchez

    Eagle FC 46 took place live tonight from the FLXcast Arena in Miami Florida.

    The event was headlined by a 165 lbs. bout between former UFC standouts Kevin Lee and Diego Sanchez. In the co-main event, Rizvan Kuniev fought Anthony Hamilton. Also in action was former UFC vet Ray Borg, who took on Ricky Bandejas.

    You can catch the highlights from all three bouts below followed by the quick results.

    Ray Borg def. Ricky Bandejas

    https://twitter.com/EagleFightClub/status/1502478816622833665

    Rizvan Kuniev def. Anthony Hamilton 

    https://twitter.com/EagleFightClub/status/1502486866880352258

    Kevin Lee def. Diego Sanchez

    https://twitter.com/EagleFightClub/status/1502494892089651216
    https://twitter.com/EagleFightClub/status/1502496311349846016

    Eagle FC 46 Quick Results

    Below, you can view the full card for Eagle FC 46: All Or Nothing

    • Kevin Lee def. Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Rizvan Kuniev def. Anthony Hamilton via submission (guillotine choke): R1, 1:17
    • Ray Borg def. Ricky Bandejas via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Handesson Ferreira def. Zach Juusola via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Raimond Magomedaliev def. Impa Kasanganay via split decision (29-28×2)
    • Ikram Aliskerov def. Nah-shon Burrell via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Irwin Rivera def. Firdavs Khasanov via TKO (body kick): R2, 4:48
    • Archie Colgan def. Dylan Mantello via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Tyler Ray def. Thomas Webb via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26×2)
    • Sitik Muduev def. Caio Uruguai via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Ryder Newman def. Manny Walo via split decision (28-29, 29-28×2)

  • Diego Sanchez: Conor McGregor Is Not A Good Influence On Our Youth

    Diego Sanchez is hoping to use his position in the sport to be a positive influence on the next generation and believes some fighters with a larger platform have fallen short in doing so.

    Diego Sanchez is a 20-year veteran of the sport who the MMA community has witnessed grow right before their eyes, beginning with his time on The Ultimate Fighter series in 2005. Since then, we’ve witnessed all the highs and the lows of Sanchez’s MMA journey. But one thing that has always remained constant is his love for the sport and the connection he has with the fans.

    Speaking with MMA Junkie, Sanchez opened up on his desire to be a beacon of inspiration for the next generation with no strings attached. He also provided one notorious example of someone he feels has fallen short in that area.

    “Now, I wanna help the youth of the next generation. I wanna be a positive, motivating inspiration and just a good influence for these kids,” Sanchez said. “Because you got guys out there like Conor McGregor that are giants of influences. And drinking Proper Twelve and hitting old men is not really a good influence to be spreading for the youth of the next generation. 

    “So I’m doing my best to do my part. And that’s why I do free seminars with kids. Anybody wanna fly me out to anywhere in America in the world, wherever, I’ll do a free seminar for the kids. Anywhere, anytime. I’ll go make that time to work with the youth of the next generation because they’re the ones that need the most because they’re the ones that are gonna keep us going and eventually be taking care of us.”

    Sanchez has indeed been very charitable with his time and actions for his fans. In 2017, he even participated in an “exhibition” fight with a superfan who had Down syndrome to help make the fan’s dream.

    Diego Sanchez helps make UFC superfan's dream come true | theScore.com

    As for McGregor, Sanchez alluded to one specific incident in 2019 where the Irishman was fined for punching an elderly man in a pub. McGregor has also had other run-ins with the law during his tenure under the spotlight.

    Despite Sanchez not thinking highly of McGregor as a role model, there has always been a strong sense of mutual respect displayed between the two publicly. In fact, Sanchez once expressed that he wanted his retirement fight to be against McGregor, and much to the surprise of many, including UFC President Dana White, McGregor wanted the fight as well.

    McGregor also came to Sanchez’s defense when the TUF winner was involved with controversial manager Joshua Fabia. After a video was released last year of Sanchez taking blows from Fabia while hanging upside down, McGregor spoke up and advised Sanchez to take a different path.

    Diego Sanchez’s next professional venture features his first MMA fight outside of the UFC in 18 years and his first fight since 2020. He will be taking on Kevin Lee on March 11 in a 165 lbs. bout for the Eagle FC promotion.

    Do you agree with Diego Sanchez’s take on Conor McGregor?

  • Kevin Lee vs. Diego Sanchez Booked For March 11 Eagle FC Event

    Kevin Lee has his first fight under the Eagle FC banner booked against another former UFC mainstay in Diego Sanchez.

    Earlier this month, it was revealed that Kevin Lee found himself a new home following his sudden UFC release. He announced that he would be joining Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion after a relatively brief free-agency period. At the time, the only additional details revealed was that it was a multi-fight contract and that he would be compensated entirely in bitcoin. There was no word on who his first opponent would be.

    Diego Sanchez
    Diego Sanchez, Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

    Fast-forward to Christmas weekend and multiple sources have now confirmed that Lee will debut in the promotion against the original Ultimate Fighter, Diego Sanchez. Like Lee, Sanchez will also be competing for the first time since his UFC release. This bout will be contested at 165 lbs.

    Between the two of them, these competitors are 0-3 in their last three fights. In Lee’s case, he is 1-4 out of his last five, with losses to Al Iaquinta; Rafael dos Anjos; reigning UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira; and most recently, Daniel Rodriguez. Prior to these struggles, Lee once put himself in a position to challenge for the UFC interim lightweight championship and strung together five consecutive UFC victories at one point.

    Diego Sanchez made headlines this year for his tumultuous split first from the UFC and then from his mentor and trainer Joshua Fabia. There were talks of Sanchez potentially joining Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, but now we have learned that “The Nightmare” has decided to take his talents to the Eagle FC instead. This news comes after Sanchez’s recent health scare in his battle against COVID-19. He most recently competed in September 2020 in a loss to Jake Matthews.

    MMA News will bring you full coverage of this March 11 Eagle FC card as well as any relevant updates in connection to this bout.

    What do you think of the matchmaking of Kevin Lee being paired against Diego Sanchez?

  • Diego Sanchez “Happy And Healthy” After Lengthy Hospital Stay

    Former UFC fighter Diego Sanchez has provided a positive update on his health after a multiple-week stay in the hospital.

    Sanchez had been fighting for his life after a combination of pneumonia and COVID-19 left him in a hospital bed. The illnesses also allegedly caused Sanchez to develop clots in both of his legs as a result of the diagnosis.

    Late last month, Sanchez had posted a detailed tweet in which he described his experience with COVID-19. After fighters such as Colby Covington downplayed the virus, Sanchez described it as “evil” as he fought for his life in the hospital.

    Diego Sanchez’s Health Has Turned Around After Recent Scare

    Things turned around for Sanchez over the weekend as he posted a brief, albeit encouraging update to his Twitter followers.

    “Happy and healthy. Thanks be to God,” Sanchez said.

    Sanchez has had quite the wild ride in 2021. After withdrawing from a UFC fight against fellow fan-favorite Donald Cerrone, he entered a feud between his then-manager, Joshua Fabia, and the UFC brass. The promotion opted to cut ties with Sanchez after a tenure in the UFC that stemmed from his win on Season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter.

    Sanchez is widely regarded as a major pioneer in UFC history, helping grow the sport of MMA, especially during the 2000s. He’s currently a free agent and has allegedly been in talks with promotions such as Bare Knuckle FC and Eagle FC for his services.

    Where would you eventually like Diego Sanchez to end up in the next chapter of his MMA career?