Diego “The Nightmare” Sanchez is known for winning the first season of the
runaway hit realty show “The Ultimate Fighter”. Diego started karate lessons
at nine years old. Years of martial arts training aided his athletic pursuits at Del
Norte High School as a wrestler and on the high school gridiron as a linebacker. During Diego’s senior year in 2000, he won the state championship in the
152 lb. weight class and etched his name among the best grapplers in school
history.
Diego went on to train with MMA guru Greg Jackson under his system
of submission wrestling, Gaidojutsu. Diego quickly made his way up through
smaller shows racking up eleven victories in a row before he landed a spot on
“The Ultimate Fighter”. After defeating Kenny Florian in the season finale at
middleweight Diego, dropped to welterweight and went on a five fight winning
streak. His only two losses are to Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, both by decision, which he fully intends to avenge. Previously known to take fights to the
mat, to ground and pound his opponents, Diego has systematically improved
his stand up as displayed in his recent victory over Luigi Fioravanti.
Diego currently lives and trains in San Diego, CA under the watchful eye of Jiu-Jitsu
wizard Saulo Ribeiro.
Weight Class:155
Nickname: The Nightmare
Fighting out of: San Diego, CA
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Albuquerque, New Mexico
