Diego Sanchez, known as the “Nightmare,” has been a fixture in the UFC since his days on the first season of TUF reality show. Sanchez’s intense, aggressive style and unshakable self-belief made him a fan favorite, but his career has also been marked by turmoil and personal struggles.
As per the latest episode of Dark side of the Cage, Diego Sanchez’ story was derailed after loss to BJ Penn, conveniently skipping over a huge chunk of his history.
Sanchez’s journey began in Albuquerque, where he discovered his passion for combat sports at a young age. Growing up in a tough neighborhood, Sanchez turned to martial arts as a means of survival, excelling in both karate and high school wrestling. However, it was his introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that would truly shape his approach to MMA.
“For me, wrestling, you have to pin the guy and win on points,” Sanchez explained. “This is the real wrestling. I get to make the other man tap out and making him give up. That’s a real victory.”
Sanchez’s BJJ-infused style brought him early success, culminating in his victory on TUF and a UFC contract. His relentless pursuit of the finish earned him the “Nightmare” moniker, as he “destroyed everybody” in his path.
However, Sanchez’s meteoric rise was not without its setbacks. His first major defeat came against BJ Penn, a dominant lightweight champion at the time. Sanchez was left physically and emotionally rocked by the experience, a humbling reminder that he was not invincible.
“When I was in there with BJ, I had to go through something that was not normal to me,” Sanchez admitted in Dark Side of the Cage series. “It was an eye-opener that you’re not invincible.”
The loss to Penn sent Sanchez spiraling, as he struggled with the excesses of Las Vegas and a failed relationship with his coaches. It was during this low point that he encountered the enigmatic Joshua Fabia, a self-proclaimed “perfectionist” who promised to restore Sanchez’s fighting prowess.
Fabia’s unconventional training methods, including the use of psychedelics and bizarre physical challenges, drew widespread criticism from the MMA community. Sanchez, however, remained steadfast in his belief in Fabia, even as his former teammates expressed concerns about the trainer’s influence.
“I was under his spell and I believed in these things that he was telling me,” Sanchez reflected. “Some of the s*it that he might bring awareness and light to could seriously change and affect a monopoly billion, ten billion dollar organization.”
Sanchez’s loyalty to Fabia ultimately led to a bitter falling out with the UFC, as the promotion opted to cut ties with the aging fighter rather than continue to work with Fabia. It was a heartbreaking end to Sanchez’s storied career, one that many felt could have been avoided had he not fallen under Fabia’s sway.
Despite the tumultuous latter stages of his career, Sanchez’s legacy as a true warrior and pioneer of the sport remains intact. His relentless spirit and unwavering belief in his abilities, coupled with his groundbreaking contributions to the UFC’s rise, have cemented his place in the pantheon of MMA greats.
As Sanchez reflects on his journey, he remains hopeful that he can use his experiences to inspire and guide the next generation of MMA stars.
“I want to be the coach that’s like, that stuff isn’t even a worry,” he said. “That’s never going to happen to my fighter because I’m going to be so far ahead of it.”
