411 Fighter Profile: Diego Sanchez

Posted by Jonathan Solomon on 06.18.2008

Diego Sanchez returns to the octagon at the Ultimate Fighter Finale to fight Luigi Fioravanti. Before you watch "The Nightmare" in action, read this profile to learn everything about the original Ultimate Fighter winner.

Diego Sanchez

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Nickname: "Nightmare"
Record: 18-2
Weight: 170 pounds
Height: 5'10"
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Ranking None

Association: Saulo Ribeiro's University of Jiu-Jitsu
Organizations: UFC (current), KOTC, Pride of Albuquerque, Aztec Challenge, ROF
Accomplishments: Winner of 1st Ultimate Fighter, Former KOTC Welterweight Champion

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Introduction

Diego Sanchez has been low on the radar over the past several months. Think back to the very first Ultimate Fighter finale and you may recall the amazing Griffin/Bonnar I fight or Rich Franklin's destruction of Ken Shamrock. Earlier in the night, Diego Sanchez became the very first Ultimate Fighter winner by beating Kenny Florian. After a drop to the welterweight division, Sanchez continued his run through the UFC with big wins over Nick Diaz and Karo Parisyan (in a 2006 fight of the year candidate). Then he ran into trouble inside the octagon and outside. Back-to-back losses to Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch derailed championship hopes. A drug suspension, health problems and a change of fight camps have been anything but casual. At UFC 82, he returned to his winning ways inside the octagon.

Early Life

Diego Sanchez was born on December 31, 1981 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He began his martial arts life at the age of nine and started wrestling a few years later. In high school he played linebacker on his school's football team and as a senior, he won the state wrestling championship at 152 pounds. Shortly after high school, he began training for mixed martial arts with Greg Jackson.

MMA Career

Win, Michael Johnson, Submission (rear naked choke), n/a, n/a
    ROF 5: Predators, Denver, Colorado, 06.21.02
Win, Jesus Sanchez, TKO, round 2, n/a
    Aztec Challenge 1, Juarez, Mexico, 09.06.02
Win, Shannon Ritch, Submission (rear naked choke), round 1, 1:01
    KOTC 20: Crossroads, Bernalillo, New Mexico, 12.15.02



Win, Jake Short, TKO (strikes), round 1, 2:34
    KOTC 21: Invasion, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 02.21.03
Win, Mike Guymon, Submission (armbar), round 1, 4:53
    KOTC 23: Sin City, Las Vegas, Nevada, 05.16.03
Win, Rene Kronvold, Submission (armbar), round 1, 3:39
    KOTC 24: Mayhem, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 06.14.03



Win, John Cronk, Submission (kimura), round 2, 1:30
    KOTC 26: Gladiator Challenge, Acoma, New Mexico, 08.03.03
Win, Chuz Chacon, Submission, n/a, n/a
    Independent Show, New Mexico, 02.28.04
Win, Travis Beachler, TKO, round 1, 0:35
    Pride of Albuquerque, New Mexico, 04.10.04
Win, Ray Elbe, Submission (strikes), round 1, 1:07
    KOTC 35, Albuerquerque, New Mexico, 05.15.04
Win, Jorge Santiago, Decision (unanimous), round 3, 5:00
    KOTC 36: Unfinished Business, San Jacinto, California, 06.12.04
Win, Kenny Florian, TKO (strikes), round 1, 2:49
    UFC Ultimate Fighter Finale, Las Vegas, Nevada, 04.09.05

Diego sanchez vs kenny florian ufcFighters.com

The fight to determine who would earn a big-money UFC contract coming off of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Both men fought as middleweights here and Sanchez made it a quick bout. With the win, Sanchez earned himself a "six-figure, three year" contract with the UFC.


Win, Brian Gassaway, Submission (strikes), round 2, 1:56
    UFC 54: Boiling Point, Las Vegas, Nevada, 08.20.05
Win, Nick Diaz, Decision (unanimous), round 3, 5:00
    UFC Ultimate Fighter Finale 2, Las Vegas, Nevada, 11.5.05

Nick Diaz reportedly e-mailed disparaging remarks leading up to this fight. The always classy Diaz threw his shoe at Sanchez in the locker room before this fight. Yes, the infamous shoe-throwing. This didn't do much besides piss Sanchez off.

Win, John Allesio, Decision (unanimous), round 3, 5:00
    UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie, Los Angeles, California, 05.27.06
Win, Karo Parisyan, Decision (unanimous), round 3, 5:00
    UFC Fight Night 6, Las Vegas, Nevada, 08.17.06

This fight was voted the 2006 Shoot Fight of the Year by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Win, Joe Riggs, KO (knee), round 1, 1:45
    UFC Fight Night 7, San Diego, California, 12.13.06

Sanchez won for the first time due to a knockout. He nailed Riggs with a right hook followed by a devastating knee for the win.

Loss, Josh Koscheck, Decision (unanimous), round 3, 5:00
    UFC 69: Shootout, Houston Texas, 04.07.07

This was a highly anticipated fight between season one Ultimate Fighter castmates. Bad blood existed between the two stemming from comments Koscheck made about Sanchez's family. At the weigh-in the day before the show, the two exchanged words and Sanchez shoved Koscheck. The fight itself was a letdown in terms of excitement as the majority of the contest was spent standing. At the conclusion of the fight, the Houston crowd made the fighters aware of their displeasure with a chorus of boo's. However, in the months after, it was explained Diego experienced health problems going into the fight. Unable to determine specifically what was wrong, Sanchez fought. They later discovered he was suffering from a severe staph infection that caused a hole in his thigh to develop the day following this fight.

Loss, Jon Fitch, Decision (split), round 3, 5:00
    UFC 76: Knockout, Anaheim, California, 09.22.07
Win, David Bielkheden, Submission (punches), round 1, 4:43
    UFC 82: Pride of a Champion, Columbus, Ohio, 03.01.08

For the first time, Sanchez was facing a losing streak. At the time, there was talk that he considered a drop down the lightweight division. After a dominating performance here, he confirmed he would stay at welterweight.

The Future

Diego Sanchez will try to start another winning streak this Saturday night. He will fight former U.S. Marine, Luigi Fioravanti. The last fans saw of Fioravanti was at UFC 82 when he beat Luke Cummo via unanimous decision. There is no doubt that Sanchez is the favorite heading into the battle. Sanchez is healthy and focused so his conditioning and focus should not be a problem. Whether he can put it all together inside the octagon, that's a question that will be answered on Saturday night.