Biography
Diego Sanchez is an American professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2002, Sanchez is most known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he won the Middleweight tournament of The Ultimate Fighter 1, and later challenged for the UFC Lightweight Championship in 2009. He has also formerly competed for King of the Cage, where he was the Welterweight Champion. Sanchez has been involved in three Wrestling Observer Newsletter "Fight of the Year" bouts, tied for the most of any fighter in mixed martial arts; his first was against Karo Parisyan at UFC Fight Night 6, and then again against Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale (which culminated into a title shot against then-UFC Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn, 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, Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight; the other being Kenny Florian.
UFC Stats
Official · ufc.com2.69
/ min
Sig. strikes landed
3.02
/ min
Sig. strikes absorbed
1.51
/ 15 min
Takedowns
0.83
avg
Submissions
0.25
avg
Knockdowns
How He Wins
Finish Rate
wins by finish
Recent Form
Mixed Martial Arts44 Bouts
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss |  Kevin LeeH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | Eagle FC 46 | Mar 11, 2022 |
| Loss |  Jake MatthewsH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 253 | Sep 27, 2020 |
| Win |  Michel PereiraH2H | DQ (illegal knee) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 | Feb 15, 2020 |
| Loss | Michael ChiesaH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 239 | Jul 6, 2019 |
| Win | Mickey GallH2H | TKO (punches) | R2 | UFC 235 | Mar 2, 2019 |
| Win |  Craig WhiteH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 228 | Sep 8, 2018 |
| Loss | Matt BrownH2H | KO (elbow) | R1 | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis | Nov 11, 2017 |
| Loss | Al IaquintaH2H | KO (punches) | R1 | UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov | Apr 22, 2017 |
| Win |  Marcin HeldH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson | Nov 5, 2016 |
| Loss | Joe LauzonH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | UFC 200 | Jul 9, 2016 |
| Win | Jim MillerH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 196 | Mar 5, 2016 |
| Loss | Ricardo LamasH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum | Nov 21, 2015 |
| Win | Ross PearsonH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov | Jun 7, 2014 |
| Loss | Myles JuryH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 171 | Mar 14, 2014 |
| Loss | Gilbert MelendezH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 166 | Oct 19, 2013 |
| Win |  Takanori GomiH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann | Mar 3, 2013 |
| Loss | Jake EllenbergerH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger | Feb 15, 2012 |
| Win |  Martin KampmannH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann | Mar 3, 2011 |
| Win | Paulo ThiagoH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 121 | Oct 23, 2010 |
| Loss | John HathawayH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 114 | May 29, 2010 |
| Loss | B.J. PennH2H | TKO (doctor stoppage) | R5 | UFC 107 | Dec 12, 2009 |
| Win | Clay GuidaH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale | Jun 20, 2009 |
| Win | Joe StevensonH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 95 | Feb 21, 2009 |
| Win | Luigi FioravantiH2H | TKO (knee and punches) | R3 | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest Finale | Jun 21, 2008 |
| Win |  David BielkhedenH2H | TKO (submission to punches) | R1 | UFC 82 | Mar 1, 2008 |
| Loss | Jon FitchH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | UFC 76 | Sep 22, 2007 |
| Loss | Josh KoscheckH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 69 | Apr 7, 2007 |
| Win | Joe RiggsH2H | KO (knee) | R1 | UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Riggs | Dec 13, 2006 |
| Win | Karo ParisyanH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Parisyan | Aug 17, 2006 |
| Win |  John AlessioH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 60 | May 27, 2006 |
| Win | Nick DiazH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale | Nov 5, 2005 |
| Win | Brian GassawayH2H | TKO (submission to punches) | R2 | UFC 54 | Aug 20, 2005 |
| Win | Kenny FlorianH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale | Apr 9, 2005 |
| Win | Jorge SantiagoH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | KOTC 37: Unfinished Business | Jun 12, 2004 |
| Win | Ray ElbeH2H | TKO (submission to punches) | R1 | KOTC 36: Albuquerque | May 15, 2004 |
| Win | Travis BeachlerH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | Pride of Albuquerque | Apr 10, 2004 |
| Win | Cruz ChaconH2H | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R1 | KOTC 35: Acoma | Feb 28, 2004 |
| Win | John CronkH2H | Submission (kimura) | R2 | KOTC 26: Gladiator Challenge | Aug 3, 2003 |
| Win | Rene KronvoldH2H | Submission (armbar) | R1 | KOTC 24: Mayhem | Jun 14, 2003 |
| Win | Mike Guymon | Submission (armbar) | R1 | KOTC 23: Sin City | May 16, 2003 |
| Win | Jake ShortH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | KOTC 21: Invasion | Feb 21, 2003 |
| Win | Shannon RitchH2H | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R1 | KOTC 20: Crossroads | Dec 15, 2002 |
| Win |  Jesus SanchezH2H | KO (punches) | R2 | Aztec Challenge 1 | Sep 6, 2002 |
| Win | Michael JohnsonH2H | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R1 | Ring of Fire 5 | Jun 21, 2002 |
Related Fighters
Data sourced from public records for archival/research purposes.