Diego Sanchez

Diego Sanchez
Diego Sanchez in 2009
Born	(1981-12-31) December 31, 1981 (age 42) Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Nickname	The Nightmare
Residence	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Division	Featherweight (2015) Lightweight (2009, 2013–2017) Super lightweight (2022) Welterweight (2002–2008, 2010–2012, 2017–present) Middleweight (2005)
Reach	72 in (183 cm)[1]
Stance	Southpaw
Fighting out of	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Team	Jackson Wink MMA Academy (2002–2007, 2010–2019)[2]
Rank	Black belt in Gaidojutsu[3] Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Roberto Tussa[4][3]
Years active	2002–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	44
Wins	30
By knockout	10
By submission	6
By decision	13
By disqualification	1
Losses	14
By knockout	4
By decision	10
University	[5]
Notable school(s)	Del Norte High School
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Diego Sanchez (born December 31, 1981) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes on the Super Lightweight division of Eagle Fighting Championship. 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. He has also formerly competed for King of the Cage, where he was the Welterweight Champion.

Sanchez has been involved in more "Fight of the Year" bouts than any other 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.