UFC Hall of Famer Diego Sanchez is in some legal trouble.
A couple weeks ago (July 18, 2025), Sanchez was arrested in his home city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, after allegedly firing shots into the air from a moving vehicle. “The Nightmare” is accused of the felony shooting at or from a motor vehicle (no great bodily harm) and misdemeanor charge negligent use of a deadly weapon (discharge).
Now, video of the arrest has been released by TMZ. In the footage above, an erratic Sanchez is placed in handcuffs
in the middle of the road. He then gets agitated and complains that the cuffs are cutting him, though the officer notes that no blood is present. After the cuff situation is addressed, the officers realize they’re talking about “the UFC fighter Diego Sanchez” and one admits that he’s watched him fight “since I was a little kid.”
The vehicle’s driver named Sanchez as the shooter, though Sanchez denied the charge. A handgun and shell casings were found in the vehicle. In the immediate aftermath of the arrest, Sanchez’s representatives claimed the incident was the outcome of substance abuse and hope to arrange professional help for the retired fighter.
Sanchez, age 43, hasn’t fought in MMA since a unanimous decision loss to UFC veteran Kevin Lee in March 2022. He’s remained active in combat sports, however, facing off with accomplished boxer Austin Trout in a bare knuckle boxing match the following year, which resulted in a bloody, predictable defeat for the jiu-jitsu ace.
He was supposed to box another UFC vet in John Makdessi this year, but the entire card was cancelled.
Unfortunately, Sanchez’s life has been rather chaotic in recent years. A “creepy weirdo” effectively hoodwinked Sanchez, taking over his training and leading him to numerous UFC defeats and an eventual unceremonious exit from the promotion. Sanchez has thankfully moved on from that chapter of his life, even if it cost him $100k.
Sanchez’s current issues remind me of two other fighters to whom Sanchez is linked. First and foremost, former foe BJ Penn is currently in the midst of his own legal drama after an extensive Octagon career. It’s worrying to see two members of that same Lightweight generation publicly losing their stability. To a lesser degree, Sanchez doesn’t have a great relationship with former training partner Jon Jones, but there may be something in the Albuquerque waters drawing fighters to crime.
Here’s hoping “The Nightmare” gets the help he needs.
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