Diego Sanchez
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Early Career
On June 21, 2002 Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez (born December 31, 1981) defeated Michael Johnson with a Rear Naked Choke. The occasion marked Sanchez's professional Mixed Martial Arts debut. After scoring a TKO victory in his next match, Diego was recruited by the King of the Cage promotion. By the time Sanchez left K.O.T.C. his record under their banner was 7-0.
Sanchez would go on to finish his first ten matches by submission or knock out. In his eleventh bout Sanchez would finally go the distance, winning a unanimous decision over Jorge Santiago. Still undefeated "Nightmare" was starting to draw attention, most notably including the favor of TAPout clothing executives, Charles Lewis Jr. and Dan Caldwell:
"...I was like, “There’s this kid, Diego Sanchez out of New Mexico, he’s crazy and he’s insane.” And actually, this story is a true story, he ended up bumping one guy off The Ultimate Fighter that was slated to go on there, plugged Diego Sanchez in, Diego ends up winning it at the 185-pound mark, further cementing us as talent scouts."
T.U.F. And The UFC
The first season of The Ultimate fighter brought Sanchez into the homes of America's MMA fans each week. Representing Team Liddell, Diego began his road to the finale with a Rear Naked Choke on Alex Karalexis. "Nightmare" fought Josh Koscheck in the show's semi-final bracket, and earned his way into the final confrontation, a Middleweight showdown with Kenny Florian.
After emerging as the winner, beating Florian by TKO, Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez was dubbed "The Ultimate Fighter" and awarded a UFC contract, along with other prizes. Diego's next match would take place on August, 20, 2005 at UFC 54. And Sanchez continued his unbeaten streak, bringing his record to an amazing 13-0.
Having achieved victory after victory, Sanchez was given a stiffer test of his skill, a bout with grappling ace Nick Diaz. Again Sanchez would win, and be rewarded with a harder foe. This trend held as "Nightmare" continued his meteoric rise to the top of the UFC's Welterweight division, having his hand raised against John Alessio, Karo Parisyan (in the 2006 fight of year), and Joe "Diesel" Riggs.
At 17-0, and with a title shot seen as a given should he once again prevail in the Octagon, Diego Sanchez faced his old T.U.F. nemesis, Josh Koscheck. Unfortunately for "Nightmare" his dream of ascending to the status of undefeated champion, would come to and end. Losing a unanimous decision to Koscheck sent Sanchez back into the crowded ranks of UFC hopefuls. Diego lost his next fight to Jon Fitch, this time dropping a split decision.
Since the back-to-back losses Sanchez has rededicated himself to the study of Jiu-jitsu, under the Ribiero brothers. He has also resumed his winning ways in the UFC, picking up victories over David Bielkheden and Luigi Fioravanti. Once more Sanchez is at the cusp of a title shot, as he awaits a match with Thiago Alves at UFC 90.
Mixed martial arts record
19-2
| 21 matches | 19 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 0 |
| By submission | 9 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 2 |
| Draws | 0 | |
Gallery
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