Diego Sanchez

“The Nightmare”

MMA · Active

30-14RECORD

10KO / TKO WINS

6SUBMISSION WINS

13DECISION WINS

Profile

Full name	Not added yet
Nickname	The Nightmare
Date of birth	31 Dec 1981
Nationality	American
Birthplace	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Lives in	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Division	Welterweight / Lightweight
Team	Jackson Wink MMA Academy
Height	178 cm (5′10″)
Reach	183 cm (72″)
Stance	Southpaw
Years active	since 2002
Status	Active
Pro debut	21 Jun 2002
Last fight	Loss vs Kevin Lee, 11 Mar 2022

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Titles and honours

The Ultimate Fighter 1 Middleweight Tournament winner
KOTC Welterweight Champion
UFC Hall of Fame, Fight wing (Class of 2019)

Background

Sanchez is an American mixed martial artist from Albuquerque who has competed professionally since 2002. He won The Ultimate Fighter 1 middleweight tournament and challenged B.J. Penn for the UFC Lightweight Championship in 2009.

Fight history

44 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Event	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Kevin Lee	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Eagle FC 46	11 Mar 2022	Miami, Florida, U.S.	Super lightweight (165 lb) debut
Loss	Jake Matthews	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 253	27 Sep 2020	Abu Dhabi, UAE
Win	Michel Pereira	DQ (illegal knee)	3	3:09	UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2	15 Feb 2020	Rio Rancho, New Mexico, U.S.
Loss	Michael Chiesa	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 239	6 Jul 2019	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Mickey Gall	TKO (punches)	2	4:13	UFC 235	2 Mar 2019	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Performance of the Night
Win	Craig White	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 228	8 Sep 2018	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Loss	Matt Brown	KO (elbow)	1	3:44	UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis	11 Nov 2017	Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.	Return to welterweight
Loss	Al Iaquinta	KO (punches)	1	1:38	UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov	22 Apr 2017	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Win	Marcin Held	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	TUF Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson	5 Nov 2016	Mexico City, Mexico
Loss	Joe Lauzon	TKO (punches)	1	1:26	UFC 200	9 Jul 2016	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Jim Miller	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 196	5 Mar 2016	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Return to lightweight
Loss	Ricardo Lamas	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	TUF Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum	21 Nov 2015	Monterrey, Mexico	Featherweight debut
Win	Ross Pearson	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov	7 Jun 2014	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Loss	Myles Jury	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 171	14 Mar 2014	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Loss	Gilbert Melendez	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 166	19 Oct 2013	Houston, Texas, U.S.	Fight of the Night
Win	Takanori Gomi	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann	3 Mar 2013	Saitama, Japan	Return to lightweight; missed weight (158 lb)
Loss	Jake Ellenberger	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger	15 Feb 2012	Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.	Fight of the Night
Win	Martin Kampmann	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann	3 Mar 2011	Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.	Fight of the Night
Win	Paulo Thiago	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 121	23 Oct 2010	Anaheim, California, U.S.	Fight of the Night
Loss	John Hathaway	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 114	29 May 2010	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Return to welterweight
Loss	B.J. Penn	TKO (doctor stoppage)	5	2:37	UFC 107	12 Dec 2009	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.	For UFC Lightweight Championship
Win	Clay Guida	Decision (split)	3	5:00	The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale	20 Jun 2009	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Fight of the Night
Win	Joe Stevenson	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 95	21 Feb 2009	London, England	Lightweight debut; Fight of the Night
Win	Luigi Fioravanti	TKO (knee and punches)	3	4:07	The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest Finale	21 Jun 2008	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	David Bielkheden	TKO (submission to punches)	1	4:43	UFC 82	1 Mar 2008	Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Loss	Jon Fitch	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC 76	22 Sep 2007	Anaheim, California, U.S.
Loss	Josh Koscheck	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 69	7 Apr 2007	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Win	Joe Riggs	KO (knee)	1	1:45	UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Riggs	13 Dec 2006	San Diego, California, U.S.	Tested positive for marijuana
Win	Karo Parisyan	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Parisyan	17 Aug 2006	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Fight of the Night
Win	John Alessio	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 60	27 May 2006	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Win	Nick Diaz	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale	5 Nov 2005	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Brian Gassaway	TKO (submission to punches)	2	1:56	UFC 54	20 Aug 2005	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Return to welterweight
Win	Kenny Florian	TKO (punches)	1	2:49	The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale	9 Apr 2005	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Won TUF 1 Middleweight Tournament
Win	Jorge Santiago	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	KOTC 37: Unfinished Business	12 Jun 2004	San Jacinto, California, U.S.	Won vacant KOTC Welterweight Championship
Win	Ray Elbe	TKO (submission to punches)	1	1:07	KOTC 36: Albuquerque	15 May 2004	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Win	Travis Beachler	TKO (punches)	1	0:35	Pride of Albuquerque	10 Apr 2004	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Win	Cruz Chacon	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	0:41	KOTC 35: Acoma	28 Feb 2004	Acoma, New Mexico, U.S.
Win	John Cronk	Submission (kimura)	2	1:30	KOTC 26: Gladiator Challenge	3 Aug 2003	Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.
Win	Rene Kronvold	Submission (armbar)	1	3:39	KOTC 24: Mayhem	14 Jun 2003	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Win	Mike Guymon	Submission (armbar)	1	4:57	KOTC 23: Sin City	16 May 2003	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Jake Short	TKO (punches)	1	2:34	KOTC 21: Invasion	21 Feb 2003	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.	Welterweight debut
Win	Shannon Ritch	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	0:59	KOTC 20: Crossroads	15 Dec 2002	Bernalillo, New Mexico, U.S.	Middleweight bout
Win	Jesus Sanchez	KO (punches)	2	2:33	Aztec Challenge 1	6 Sep 2002	Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Win	Michael Johnson	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	3:45	Ring of Fire 5	21 Jun 2002	Denver, Colorado, U.S.	Professional debut