After more than 15 years fighting for the UFC, Diego Sanchez, is planning on retiring after his next fight.
The Ultimate Fighter 1 winner announced Sunday that “it’s time to heal not hurt,” and that the opponent for his last fight is solely in the hands of Dana White.
“It’s my last fight my heart path has changed, it’s time to heal not hurt,” Sanchez said. “One more nightmare to give! It is honestly in Dana White’s hands who I fight, I have no choice in it nor do the match makers. End of an era.”
Sanchez, 39, was inducted into the UFC Hall Of Fame Fight Wing in 2019 for his fight against, Clay Guida, at the The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale back in 2009 where he defeated, Guida, by split decision.
Throughout his career, Sanchez, took on legendary fighters such as Nick Diaz, Clay Guida, BJ Penn, Gilbert Melendez, Takanori Gomi, Kenny Florian, and more. Being one of the last of his kind, Sanchez, truly is a pioneer of the sport.
After recently going on a rough skid, losing two of his last three fights, and with his only win coming by way of disqualification of the other fighter due to an illegal knee, Sanchez, has started to realize that his best days are behind him.
According to his recent social media posts, Diego, is looking to fight sometime in April, against a proper opponent. “Retirement fight needs to be the proper opponent and I’m checking out of this game,” Sanchez wrote.
