Diego Sanchez, a UFC Hall of Famer and the first Ultimate Fighter winner, was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 18, 2025, for allegedly firing a gun from a moving car. A video released by TMZ shows Sanchez handcuffed on a highway, acting upset and complaining about tight cuffs while a cop says, “I grew up watching you.” He faces a felony charge for shooting from a vehicle and a misdemeanor for negligent use of a deadly weapon. The driver named Sanchez as the shooter, but he denied it.
Arrest and Video Details
On July 18, 2025, Albuquerque police got calls about gunshots from a Jeep Gladiator near a crash on I-40 west at University Avenue. Officers stopped the car near the 6th Street exit and arrested Sanchez. The driver said Sanchez fired the gun, and police found a handgun and shell casings in the vehicle. The video captures Sanchez yelling about the cuffs hurting, though the officer notes no blood.
Sanchez’s team told MMA Fighting the incident relates to substance abuse problems, and they’re seeking help for him. No one was hurt, but the felony charge is serious, with court proceedings ongoing.
Diego Sanchez, 43, is from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He won the middleweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 1 in 2005, beating Kenny Florian. Known for his intense fighting style, he competed in UFC’s welterweight and lightweight divisions, earning a 2009 Hall of Fame fight against Clay Guida. His record is 30-14, with wins over Jim Miller and Martin Kampmann. His last MMA fight was a loss to Kevin Lee in Eagle FC in March 2022.
In 2023, he lost a bare-knuckle boxing match to Austin Trout, and a planned boxing match with John Makdessi in 2025 was canceled.In 2021, Sanchez’s coach, Joshua Fabia, clashed with UFC over medical records, leading to his release before a fight with Donald Cerrone. Sanchez later described Fabia’s influence as “spiritual warfare” on social media. He’s struggled with substance abuse, which his team linked to this arrest, similar to legal issues faced by other fighters like Jon Jones with DUIs and BJ Penn with a 2023 bar fight.
Sanchez faces serious legal consequences with his felony and misdemeanor charges. His team is focused on getting him help for personal struggles. A return to fighting seems unlikely due to his age and legal issues.
