Diego Sanchez, the winner of the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter," was arrested Thursday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after allegedly firing a gun from a moving vehicle, as per TMZ. According to court documents, officers were responding to an incident on Interstate 40 when they noticed a Jeep Gladiator passing by the scene. A passenger in the vehicle, later identified as Sanchez, reportedly discharged a firearm during the drive.
Police stopped the Jeep shortly afterward. While Sanchez admitted there was a gun in the vehicle, he denied firing any shots. However, the driver, who is not facing charges, told officers that Sanchez did shoot from the car window and laughed about the incident. During a search of the vehicle, officers found three rounds on the passenger side and the firearm in the back pocket of the driver's seat.
The 43-year-old former UFC fighter is currently in custody and faces two charges: shooting at or from a motor vehicle and negligent use of a deadly weapon. Sanchez last competed in the UFC in 2020, losing to Jake Matthews by unanimous decision, and had his final MMA bout in 2022, a unanimous decision loss to Kevin Lee.
Over his nearly 20-year career, Sanchez compiled a professional record of 31 wins and 14 losses. He fought for the UFC lightweight title once against B.J. Penn but was knocked out in the fifth round. His notable bout with Clay Guida is enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame. This arrest marks a significant development in the life of the longtime mixed martial artist.
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