Diego Sanchez
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Diego Sanchez (born December 31, 1981) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He competes in the
Welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...
division. A professional competitor since 2002, Sanchez is most known for his time in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
(UFC), where he won the Middleweight tournament of The Ultimate Fighter 1. He has also formerly competed for
King of the Cage King of the Cage (KOTC) is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in Southern California, United States. History KOTC was founded in 1998 by Terry Trebilcock. KOTC features mostly amateur as well as up and coming MMA stars and former mains ...
, where he was the Welterweight Champion. Sanchez has been involved in more "Fight of the Year" bouts than any other fighter in mixed martial arts; his first was against Karo Parisyan at
UFC Fight Night 6 ''UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Parisyan'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 6'') was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 17, 2006. The event took place at the Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino in Las Vega ...
, and then again against Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale (which culminated into a
title shot ''Title Shot'' is a Canadian crime drama film, directed by Les Rose and released in 1979.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 219. Rose's second collaboration with writer and actor Richard Gabourie following 19 ...
against then- UFC Lightweight Champion
B.J. Penn Jay Dee "B.J." Penn III (born December 13, 1978) is an American former professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Penn competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and in K-1. Penn was the first American Go ...
, where the two headlined UFC 107), and finally against Gilbert Melendez at UFC 166. Sanchez is one of two fighters to have competed in four different weight classes in the UFC:
Middleweight Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above and up to . Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have be ...
,
Welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...
,
Lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight boxe ...
, and
Featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, th ...
; the other being Kenny Florian.


Background

Sanchez was born to a
Mexican American Mexican Americans ( es, mexicano-estadounidenses, , or ) are Americans of full or partial Mexican heritage. In 2019, Mexican Americans comprised 11.3% of the US population and 61.5% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexica ...
family on December 31, 1981. He was raised in
Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...
, where he still resides. Albuquerque is also the location of his training camp. Sanchez was a high school state champion in wrestling as a senior before he started training mixed martial arts while working for UPS. Sanchez eventually joined
Jackson's Submission Fighting Jackson Wink MMA Academy (formerly known as Jackson's Submission Fighting) is a mixed martial arts gym based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The gym has been featured in several sports documentaries and has been called one of the best MMA gyms in th ...
, still while working for UPS, managing the time between work and training.


Mixed martial arts career


Early career

Sanchez made his
MMA Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incor ...
debut in 2002 in the promotion Ring of Fire, despite having injured his heel the night before. Sanchez mostly went for takedowns, while his opponent, who was a more developed striker, bloodied the young Sanchez. However, Sanchez continued to use his
wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat s ...
expertise, landed another takedown in the second round, taking his opponent's back, then sinking in a
rear-naked choke The rear naked choke (RNC) is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. The word "naked" in this context suggests that, unlike other strangulation techniques found in jujutsu/judo, this hold does not require the use of a keikog ...
, causing his opponent to tap. This made Sanchez the winner by submission, who then earned $600 for the bout. He then went on to compile an undefeated 11-0 record before becoming a contestant on '' The Ultimate Fighter''.


''The Ultimate Fighter''

Sanchez was chosen as a participant in the first season of the reality show, '' The Ultimate Fighter''. Presented as a young, focused middleweight who only had one goal, to become a UFC champion. He won a contract with the UFC after defeating fellow finalist Kenny Florian via TKO, becoming the
middleweight Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above and up to . Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have be ...
winner for the first season of the show. On the show, Sanchez was known for being the "odd-ball" of the group, practicing
yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...
at odd moments and trying to extract "energy" from a lightning storm, and was also a self-proclaimed "
Zen master Zen master is a somewhat vague English term that arose in the first half of the 20th century, sometimes used to refer to an individual who teaches Zen Buddhist meditation and practices, usually implying longtime study and subsequent authoriz ...
".


Ultimate Fighting Championship


Welterweight

Sanchez made his post-TUF debut defeating journeyman Brian Gassaway by submission due to strikes at UFC 54 on August 20, 2005. Sanchez next defeated
Nick Diaz Nickolas Robert Diaz (born August 2, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Diaz is a former Strikeforce, WEC and IFC welterweight champi ...
via unanimous decision at The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale on November 5, 2005. Sanchez won a unanimous decision over
John Alessio John Paul Alessio (born July 5, 1979) is a Canadian retired professional mixed martial artist. A former competitor in Bellator's Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 1998, Alessio has also formerly competed for the UFC where he ...
on May 27, 2006, at UFC 60. Sanchez continued his undefeated streak with a unanimous decision victory over
judo is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo") ...
specialist Karo Parisyan at ''
UFC Fight Night 6 ''UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Parisyan'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 6'') was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 17, 2006. The event took place at the Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino in Las Vega ...
'' on August 17, 2006. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award. Sanchez faced Joe Riggs on December 13, 2006, in the main event of
UFC Fight Night 7 ''UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Riggs'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 7'') was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 13, 2006 at the MCAS Miramar near San Diego, California. It was the first UFC even ...
. Sanchez landed a right hook that knocked Riggs down, followed by a running knee that knocked Riggs out at 1:45 of the first round. Sanchez subsequently tested positive for the agents found in marijuana and was sentenced to a three-month suspension. Sanchez was then cleared to fight Josh Koscheck at UFC 69. At the weigh-ins for the event, Sanchez shoved Koscheck while they stared each other down. Sanchez ended up losing a unanimous decision to Koscheck, ending his undefeated run, in a fight that was virtually all stand up. Koscheck managed to keep Sanchez at bay with superior hand speed and footwork until the bout timed out, to take the win 30–27 on all three judges' cards. Several weeks after the fight,
Dana White Dana Frederick White Jr. (born July 28, 1969) is an American businessman who serves as president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a global mixed martial arts organization. In August 2019, White's net worth was estimated at $500 mil ...
announced that Sanchez was sick on the eve of the fight and almost had to retire when a test came back indicating he had
Hepatitis C Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. During the initial infection people often have mild or no symptoms. Occasionally a fever, dark urine, ...
. Doctors eventually concluded the test results were not correct, but could not diagnose his sickness, so the fight went ahead as planned. The day after the fight Sanchez had a hole in his thigh the "size of a coffee cup" and was diagnosed with a staph infection. In his next bout, Sanchez lost his second straight fight by split decision to Jon Fitch at UFC 76 on September 22, 2007, before rebounding against
David Bielkheden David Bielkheden (born June 6, 1979) is a retired Swedish mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2001, he has competed for the UFC, PRIDE Fighting Championships, Shooto, Cage Rage, M-1 Gl ...
at UFC 82 with a submission win in the first round due to strikes. Following the win, Sanchez stopped Luigi Fioravanti via TKO due to strikes at 4:07 of the third round at ''
The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale ''The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest'' was the seventh season of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) produced reality television series ''The Ultimate Fighter'', and premiered on April 2, 2008 on Spike, after ''UFC Fight Ni ...
''. After pulling out of a fight with Thiago Alves due to an injury, Sanchez announced he would be moving to the lightweight division.


Lightweight division and UFC Lightweight title shot

He made his lightweight debut in his next fight on February 21, 2009, at UFC 95 against
Joe Stevenson Joseph Christopher Stevenson (born June 15, 1982) is a retired American mixed martial artist fighting out of Hesperia, California. Coached by ( UFC Hall of Famer) Matt Hughes, Stevenson rose to prominence by becoming The Ultimate Fighter 2 W ...
. Training for the bout Sanchez worked with professional boxers
Joey Gilbert Joseph Salvatore Gilbert (born June 5, 1976) is an American retired professional boxer, attorney, and sports agent. Biography Gilbert was born in Chicago and raised in Sparks, Nevada. Gilbert earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English litera ...
and
Lupe Aquino Isaias Guadalupe "Lupe" Aquino (born 23 January 1963) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1999. Aquino, known as "Lupe", turned pro in 1981 and won the WBC light middleweight title in 1987 with a decision over Duane ...
, Brazilian grappling experts Xande and Saulo Ribeiro and wrestling coach Bob Anderson. Although Stevenson pressed the action throughout the bout, Sanchez landed the better strikes and won by unanimous decision. Both fighters earned a ''Fight of the Night'' bonus award. Diego credits Tony Robbins for giving him mental preparation for this latest fight, and was seen entering the bout chanting "Yes!" repeatedly. This would go on to inspire the "Yes!" chant, popularized by professional wrestler, Daniel Bryan. On June 20, 2009, Sanchez won a split-decision victory against Clay Guida at the finale of The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale. Sanchez won ''Fight of the Night'' honors, his second such award in a row. Opening up with a seemingly endless barrage of jabs and right uppercuts for the first minute he shook Guida, in the first round Sanchez also connected with a head kick that floored his opponent. Sanchez maintained a superior standup through the first round and the rest of the fight, though Guida rallied and made a contest of the next two rounds in a closely contested match. The fight went on to win "Fight of the Year" by several MMA magazines and the UFC. At UFC 107 on December 12, 2009, Sanchez fought and lost to
BJ Penn Jay Dee "B.J." Penn III (born December 13, 1978) is an American former professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Penn competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and in K-1. Penn was th ...
for the UFC Lightweight Championship. Early in the first round, Penn landed a right hand that dropped Sanchez, followed by flurry of punches that almost prompted referee Herb Dean to stop the fight. Although Sanchez was able to recover enough to stay in the bout, he was outclassed in the following four rounds that saw Penn dominate with superior stand up, whilst all 27 takedown attempts made by Sanchez were negated by Penn's superior defense. Early in the fifth round, Penn landed a head kick that caused a large cut to be opened up on the forehead of Sanchez. Herb Dean called the action to a halt for doctor's advice and the fight ended at 2:37 by TKO, marking the first time Sanchez has been stopped in a fight. This also marked only the second fight in UFC history to end in the fifth round. At the post-fight press conference, UFC President
Dana White Dana Frederick White Jr. (born July 28, 1969) is an American businessman who serves as president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a global mixed martial arts organization. In August 2019, White's net worth was estimated at $500 mil ...
was quoted saying Sanchez was "about as busted up as I've ever seen a guy." Sanchez had his bottom lip completely split open, with his left eye swollen shut and a large cut above his left eyebrow.


Return to Welterweight

Sanchez returned to the welterweight division and faced John Hathaway on May 29, 2010, at UFC 114. In the first round of the fight, Hathaway caught Sanchez with a knee to the head as Sanchez attempted a takedown. Hathaway then dominated with ground and pound while all of Sanchez's takedown attempts were negated by Hathaway's strength. The rest of the fight saw Hathaway utilize his superior striking reach, giving him the unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–26), handing Sanchez his second consecutive loss. Sanchez rejoined
Jackson's Submission Fighting Jackson Wink MMA Academy (formerly known as Jackson's Submission Fighting) is a mixed martial arts gym based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The gym has been featured in several sports documentaries and has been called one of the best MMA gyms in th ...
for his next fight with
Paulo Thiago Paulo Thiago Alencar Antunes (; born January 25, 1981) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Middleweight division of KSW. A professional competitor since 2005, he has also competed for the UFC and Jungle Figh ...
on October 23, 2010, at UFC 121. In this fight, Sanchez utilized his wrestling to control and punish Thiago in the second and third rounds. He also picked up Thiago and slammed him to the mat while screaming, Sanchez won the bout via unanimous decision. This win earned him the ''Fight of the Night'' award. Sanchez defeated Martin Kampmann by a unanimous decision on March 3, 2011, at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann in a bout that earned ''Fight of the Night'' honors. In the bout, Kampmann dropped Sanchez in the first round, and continued to get the better in the exchanges but Sanchez continuously pressured Kampmann into the cage to force wild exchanges in the second and third rounds. By the end of the fight, both men were bloodied up especially Sanchez, whose face was a bloody mess. Sanchez won the fight via unanimous decision. The bout earned both fighters the ''Fight of the Night'' award. Sanchez was expected to face former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes on September 24, 2011, at
UFC 135 ''UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 24, 2011 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Background The Ultimate Fighting Championship had its first ever event in ...
. However, Sanchez had to withdraw from the bout due to a broken hand and was replaced by Josh Koscheck. A bout between Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger was briefly linked to UFC 141. However, a lingering hand injury kept Sanchez out of action until February 2012. The Ellenberger/Sanchez bout took place on February 15, 2012, at
UFC on Fuel TV 1 The year 2012 was the 20th year in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. 2012 started with UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes and ended with UFC 155: dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2 ...
Ellenberger defeated Sanchez via unanimous decision in a bout that earned both fighters ''Fight of the Night'' honors.


Return to Lightweight

Sanchez then returned to lightweight and faced
Takanori Gomi is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist who gained international fame in Pride Fighting Championships. Later in his career, Gomi also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gomi is the only Pride FC Lightweight Champion in th ...
on March 2, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 8. Sanchez failed to make the 156 lb weight limit at the weigh ins, weighing at 158 lbs. He was fined 20 percent of his earnings and the bout was contested at a catchweight of 158 lb. Sanchez defeated Gomi via controversial split decision. 12 of 12 media outlets scored the bout in favor of Gomi. Sanchez faced Gilbert Melendez on October 19, 2013, at UFC 166. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. The bout earned Sanchez his seventh ''Fight of the Night'' bonus award. Sanchez faced
Myles Jury Myles Madison Jury (born October 31, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed with Bellator MMA, competing in the Lightweight division. He is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Background Jury was born in Hazel Park, M ...
on March 15, 2014, at
UFC 171 ''UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler'' was a mixed martial arts event that was held on March 15, 2014, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The event was released on DVD on June 17, 2014. The DVD was distributed by '' Anchor Bay Entertai ...
. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Sanchez faced
Ross Pearson Ross Pearson (born 26 September 1984) is a retired English mixed martial artist who last competed in 2019. A 26-fight veteran of the UFC, he was a three-time "Fight of the Night" winner and was the lightweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter 9 ...
on June 7, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 42. Sanchez was outstruck in every round, even getting knocked down in the second, but was awarded the win via controversial split decision. 14 of 14 media outlets scored the bout in favor of Pearson, 13 with scores of 30-27. UFC president
Dana White Dana Frederick White Jr. (born July 28, 1969) is an American businessman who serves as president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a global mixed martial arts organization. In August 2019, White's net worth was estimated at $500 mil ...
indicated that the organization will informally treat the bout as a win for Pearson and that he would be compensated with a $30,000 win bonus. Sanchez was expected to face Norman Parke at UFC 180. However, Parke pulled out of the bout in early October citing a knee injury and was replaced by Joe Lauzon. However, on October 23, it was announced that injuries to both Sanchez and Lauzon led to the pairing being scrapped altogether. In January 2015, Sanchez had surgery to repair his collarbone that was broken in training.


Stint in featherweight division

After a lengthy hiatus, Sanchez returned to make his debut in the Featherweight division. He faced Ricardo Lamas on November 21, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. After the one fight stint at featherweight, Sanchez returned to the lightweight division and faced Jim Miller on March 5, 2016, at UFC 196. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Sanchez faced longtime peer Joe Lauzon on July 9, 2016, at UFC 200. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round, resulting in his first TKO loss. The only previous TKO loss Sanchez had is when
B.J. Penn Jay Dee "B.J." Penn III (born December 13, 1978) is an American former professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Penn competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and in K-1. Penn was the first American Go ...
stopped him with a head kick at UFC 107. Sanchez fought promotional newcomer
Marcin Held Marcin Held (born January 18, 1992) is a Polish mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division. He formerly competed in the Lightweight division of the Absolute Championship Berkut, Professional Fighters League, ...
on November 5, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale. Sanchez won the fight via unanimous decision. Sanchez next faced
Al Iaquinta Al Iaquinta (born April 30, 1987) is an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, having once challenged for the Lightweight championship belt. A professional ...
on April 22, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 108. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.


Return to Welterweight

Sanchez faced Matt Brown in a welterweight bout on November 11, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis. He lost the fight via knockout in round one. Sanchez faced Craig White on September 8, 2018 at UFC 228. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Six months later, Sanchez faced Mickey Gall on March 2, 2019 at UFC 235. Sanchez won the fight via second round TKO. This marked Sanchez's first stoppage victory since 2008, it also earned him his first ''Performance of the Night'' bonus award. As the final fight of his prevailing contract with the UFC, Sanchez faced Michael Chiesa on July 6, 2019 at
UFC 239 ''UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on July 6, 2019 at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area. Background A UFC Light ...
. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. On May 28, 2019, it was announced that the fight between Sanchez and Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, where Sanchez defeat Guida by split decision, on June 20, 2009, will be honored to enter the UFC Hall of Fame during the international fight July 2019. Sanchez was suspended for three months by
USADA The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA, ) is a non-profit, non-governmental 501(c)(3) organization and the national anti- doping organization (NADO) for the United States. To protect clean competition and the integrity of sport and prevent ...
for tested positive for Ostarine and S-23, the family of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), where the prohibited substance was found from a tainted supplement. The suspension retroactive from October 26, 2019, and he was eligible to fight again on January 26, 2020. As the first bout of his new five-fight contract, Sanchez returned to the octagon when he faced
Michel Pereira Michel Pereira (born 6 October 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing as a Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2011, he formerly competed for 300 Sparta, Akhmat Fight Club, ...
at
UFC Fight Night 167 The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
on February 15, 2020 in
Rio Rancho, New Mexico Rio Rancho ( es, Río Rancho) is the most populous and only city in Sandoval County, part of the expansive Albuquerque metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. A small portion of the city extends into northern Bernalillo County. It ...
. After being dominated through the bout, he eventually won the fight via disqualification after Pereira landed an illegal knee on the ground in the third round, which rendered Sanchez unable to continue. Sanchez faced Jake Matthews on September 27, 2020 at UFC 253. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Sanchez was scheduled to face
Donald Cerrone Donald Cerrone (born March 29, 1983), known professionally by his nickname "Cowboy", is an American retired mixed martial artist, actor, and former professional kickboxer. He competed in the Lightweight and Welterweight division for the Ultimat ...
on May 8, 2021 at
UFC on ESPN 24 ''UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 24'' and ''UFC Vegas 26'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 8, 2021, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, ...
. However, Sanchez was removed from the fight on April 28 for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Alex Morono. Despite not fighting, Sanchez claims the organization paid him his guaranteed purse, win money and sponsorship money. Sanchez posted a few videos on his Instagram account showing disagreements that his trainer, Joshua Fabia had with the commentary team, where Fabia believed that the organization was attempting to slight Sanchez with its coverage. Among his claims were that the UFC was aiming cameras at him to catch him and Sanchez in bad situations, or otherwise expose Fabia's unorthodox coaching style. Fabia's infamous training sessions have been widely covered since Sanchez started working with him, including Fabia chasing his fighters around with a knife. After the release of these videos, Diego was released from the UFC. On May 20, 2021, Sanchez announced that he had parted ways with Fabia.


Eagle Fighting Championship

As the first bout of his three-fight contract, Sanchez made his debut against
Kevin Lee Kevin Jesse Lee Jr. (born September 4, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight and Super Lightweight divisions of Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC). He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Ch ...
in a 165 lbs bout on March 11, 2022 at Eagle FC 46. Sanchez hurt Lee's lead leg early in the fight with leg kicks, but would be overwhelmed by Lee's wrestling for a majority of the fight, losing by unanimous decision.


Personal life

Sanchez was married to Bernadette Sanchez and has a daughter with her. At the "JacksonWink MMA Fight Night 2" exhibition event on December 1, 2017, Sanchez faced Isaac "The Shermanator" Marquez, a man who was born with Down syndrome who dreamed of one day competing in a real mixed martial arts bout. Sanchez helped train Marquez who dedicated the fight to his late mother who died from dementia. "Most Down syndrome adults don't live past 45." Sanchez said ahead of the bout. "Isaac is 32, and I just wanted to see this young man be healthy. Exercise and martial arts are one of the most healthy things you can do." In a friendly spirited match, Marquez defeated Sanchez with a first-round submission armbar win and received a huge ovation when Sanchez tapped out.


Championships and awards


Mixed martial arts

*
Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
** UFC Hall of Fame (fight wing, class of 2019) vs. Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale ** The Ultimate Fighter 1 Middleweight Tournament Winner ** Fight of the Night (Seven times) vs. Karo Parisyan,
Joe Stevenson Joseph Christopher Stevenson (born June 15, 1982) is a retired American mixed martial artist fighting out of Hesperia, California. Coached by ( UFC Hall of Famer) Matt Hughes, Stevenson rose to prominence by becoming The Ultimate Fighter 2 W ...
, Clay Guida,
Paulo Thiago Paulo Thiago Alencar Antunes (; born January 25, 1981) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Middleweight division of KSW. A professional competitor since 2005, he has also competed for the UFC and Jungle Figh ...
, Martin Kampmann, Jake Ellenberger, Gilbert Melendez
**
Performance of the Night UFC Bonus Awards are three separate cash bonuses usually awarded to four fighters after each UFC event, based on internal decisions by UFC management. More/fewer bonuses have been awarded at some events, especially when no knockouts or submissions ...
(One time) vs. Mickey Gall **First The Ultimate Fighter Tournament Winner in UFC History **Tied-2nd most Fight of the Night Awards received in UFC History (seven) w. Frankie Edgar, Joe Lauzon &
Edson Barboza Edson Barboza Jr. (born January 21, 1986) is a Brazilian-American professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has formerly competed at lig ...
** Most decision bouts in UFC history (21) **2009 Fight of the Year vs. Clay Guida *
King of the Cage King of the Cage (KOTC) is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in Southern California, United States. History KOTC was founded in 1998 by Terry Trebilcock. KOTC features mostly amateur as well as up and coming MMA stars and former mains ...
** KOTC Welterweight Championship (One time) *
Wrestling Observer Newsletter The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') is a newsletter that covers professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. Founded in print in 1982 by Dave Meltzer, the ''Wrestling Observer'' website merged with Bryan Alvarez's ''Figure Four W ...
** 2006 Fight of the Year vs. Karo Parisyan on August 17 ** 2009 Fight of the Year vs. Clay Guida on June 20 ** 2013 Fight of the Year vs. Gilbert Melendez on October 19 * World MMA Awards **2009 Fight of the Year vs. Clay Guida * Inside MMA **2009 Bazzie Award for Fight of the Year vs. Clay Guida on June 20 **2013 Bazzie Award for Fight of the Year vs. Gilbert Melendez on October 19 *
Bleacher Report Bleacher Report (often abbreviated as B/R) is a website that focuses on sport and sports culture. Its headquarters are in San Francisco, with offices in New York City and London. Bleacher Report was acquired by Turner Broadcasting System in ...
**2013 Fight of the Year vs. Gilbert Melendez on October 19 *New Mexico Boxing **2005 Fighter of the Year **2006 Fighter of the Year **2010 Fighter of the Year


Submission grappling

* Grapplers Quest ** Grapplers Quest Hall of Fame ** Seven-Time Grapplers Quest Champion


Amateur wrestling

*
New Mexico Activities Association The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates interscholastic programs for junior and senior high schools in New Mexico. It hosts the statewide sports championship games each year. History NMAA was or ...
**NMAA High School Wrestling State Champion


Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 30–14 ,
Kevin Lee Kevin Jesse Lee Jr. (born September 4, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight and Super Lightweight divisions of Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC). He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Ch ...
, Decision (unanimous) , Eagle FC 46 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 30–13 , Jake Matthews , Decision (unanimous) , UFC 253 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dha ...
, United Arab Emirates , , - , Win , align=center, 30–12 ,
Michel Pereira Michel Pereira (born 6 October 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing as a Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2011, he formerly competed for 300 Sparta, Akhmat Fight Club, ...
, DQ (illegal knee) , UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:09 ,
Rio Rancho, New Mexico Rio Rancho ( es, Río Rancho) is the most populous and only city in Sandoval County, part of the expansive Albuquerque metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. A small portion of the city extends into northern Bernalillo County. It ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 29–12 , Michael Chiesa , Decision (unanimous) ,
UFC 239 ''UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on July 6, 2019 at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area. Background A UFC Light ...
, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 29–11 , Mickey Gall , TKO (punches) , UFC 235 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:13 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 28–11 , Craig White , Decision (unanimous) , UFC 228 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Dallas, Texas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 27–11 , Matt Brown , KO (elbow) , UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:44 ,
Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia B ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 27–10 ,
Al Iaquinta Al Iaquinta (born April 30, 1987) is an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, having once challenged for the Lightweight championship belt. A professional ...
, KO (punches) , UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:38 ,
Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 27–9 ,
Marcin Held Marcin Held (born January 18, 1992) is a Polish mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division. He formerly competed in the Lightweight division of the Absolute Championship Berkut, Professional Fighters League, ...
, Decision (unanimous) , The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
, Mexico , , - , Loss , align=center, 26–9 , Joe Lauzon , TKO (punches) , UFC 200 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:26 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 26–8 , Jim Miller , Decision (unanimous) , UFC 196 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 25–8 , Ricardo Lamas , Decision (unanimous) , The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Monterrey, Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 25–7 ,
Ross Pearson Ross Pearson (born 26 September 1984) is a retired English mixed martial artist who last competed in 2019. A 26-fight veteran of the UFC, he was a three-time "Fight of the Night" winner and was the lightweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter 9 ...
, Decision (split) , UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 24–7 ,
Myles Jury Myles Madison Jury (born October 31, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed with Bellator MMA, competing in the Lightweight division. He is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Background Jury was born in Hazel Park, M ...
, Decision (unanimous) ,
UFC 171 ''UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler'' was a mixed martial arts event that was held on March 15, 2014, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The event was released on DVD on June 17, 2014. The DVD was distributed by '' Anchor Bay Entertai ...
, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Dallas, Texas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 24–6 , Gilbert Melendez , Decision (unanimous) , UFC 166 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 24–5 ,
Takanori Gomi is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist who gained international fame in Pride Fighting Championships. Later in his career, Gomi also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gomi is the only Pride FC Lightweight Champion in th ...
, Decision (split) , UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Saitama, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 23–5 , Jake Ellenberger , Decision (unanimous) , UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 23–4 , Martin Kampmann , Decision (unanimous) , UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 22–4 ,
Paulo Thiago Paulo Thiago Alencar Antunes (; born January 25, 1981) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Middleweight division of KSW. A professional competitor since 2005, he has also competed for the UFC and Jungle Figh ...
, Decision (unanimous) , UFC 121 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-most ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 21–4 , John Hathaway , Decision (unanimous) , UFC 114 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 21–3 ,
B.J. Penn Jay Dee "B.J." Penn III (born December 13, 1978) is an American former professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Penn competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and in K-1. Penn was the first American Go ...
, TKO (doctor stoppage) , UFC 107 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 2:37 ,
Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mo ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 21–2 , Clay Guida , Decision (split) , The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 20–2 ,
Joe Stevenson Joseph Christopher Stevenson (born June 15, 1982) is a retired American mixed martial artist fighting out of Hesperia, California. Coached by ( UFC Hall of Famer) Matt Hughes, Stevenson rose to prominence by becoming The Ultimate Fighter 2 W ...
, Decision (unanimous) , UFC 95 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, England , , - , Win , align=center, 19–2 , Luigi Fioravanti , TKO (knee and punches) , The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest Finale , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:07 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 18–2 ,
David Bielkheden David Bielkheden (born June 6, 1979) is a retired Swedish mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2001, he has competed for the UFC, PRIDE Fighting Championships, Shooto, Cage Rage, M-1 Gl ...
, TKO (submission to punches) , UFC 82 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:43 ,
Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, an ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 17–2 , Jon Fitch , Decision (split) , UFC 76 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-most ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 17–1 , Josh Koscheck , Decision (unanimous) , UFC 69 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 17–0 , Joe Riggs , KO (knee) , UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Riggs , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:45 ,
San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United Stat ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 16–0 , Karo Parisyan , Decision (unanimous) ,
UFC Fight Night 6 ''UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Parisyan'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 6'') was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 17, 2006. The event took place at the Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino in Las Vega ...
, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 15–0 ,
John Alessio John Paul Alessio (born July 5, 1979) is a Canadian retired professional mixed martial artist. A former competitor in Bellator's Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 1998, Alessio has also formerly competed for the UFC where he ...
, Decision (unanimous) , UFC 60 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 14–0 ,
Nick Diaz Nickolas Robert Diaz (born August 2, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Diaz is a former Strikeforce, WEC and IFC welterweight champi ...
, Decision (unanimous) , The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 13–0 , Brian Gassaway , TKO (submission to punches) , UFC 54 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:56 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 12–0 , Kenny Florian , TKO (punches) , The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:49 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–0 , Jorge Santiago , Decision (unanimous) , KOTC 37: Unfinished Business , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , San Jacinto, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10–0 , Ray Elbe , TKO (submission to punches) , KOTC 36: Albuquerque , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:07 ,
Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–0 , Travis Beachler , TKO (punches) , Pride of Albuquerque , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:35 ,
Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–0 , Cruz Chacon , Submission (rear-naked choke) , KOTC 35: Acoma , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:41 ,
Acoma, New Mexico Acoma Pueblo (, kjq, Áakʼu) is a Native American pueblo approximately west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. Four communities make up the village of Acoma Pueblo: Sky City (Old Acoma), Acomita, Anzac, and McCartys. These com ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 , John Cronk , Submission (kimura) , KOTC 26: Gladiator Challenge , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:30 , Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 , Rene Kronvold , Submission (armbar) , KOTC 24: Mayhem , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:39 ,
Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 ,
Mike Guymon Michael Kevin Guymon (born September 17, 1974) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist who formerly competed in Bellator's Lightweight division. He has also competed for the UFC, as an alternate for the Tucson Scorpions in the ...
, Submission (armbar) , KOTC 23: Sin City , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:57 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Jake Short , TKO (punches) , KOTC 21: Invasion , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:34 ,
Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Shannon Ritch , Submission (rear-naked choke) , KOTC 20: Crossroads , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:59 ,
Bernalillo, New Mexico Bernalillo () is a town in Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 8,320. It is the county seat of Sandoval County. Bernalillo is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hi ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Jesus Sanchez , KO (punches) , Aztec Challenge 1 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:33 ,
Ciudad Juárez Ciudad Juárez ( ; ''Juarez City''. ) is the most populous city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is commonly referred to as Juárez and was known as El Paso del Norte (''The Pass of the North'') until 1888. Juárez is the seat of the Ju ...
, Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Michael Johnson , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Ring of Fire 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:45 ,
Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
, United States ,


See also

* List of male mixed martial artists


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sanchez, Diego 1981 births Living people American male mixed martial artists American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Hispanic and Latino American sportspeople People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu American mixed martial artists of Mexican descent Lightweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Mixed martial artists utilizing Gaidojutsu Sportspeople from Albuquerque, New Mexico Welterweight mixed martial artists The Ultimate Fighter winners Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters American male sport wrestlers Amateur wrestlers