Diego Sanchez Arrested For DUI, Probation Violation

Former UFC fighter Diego Sanchez was arrested Monday afternoon in Socorro, New Mexico, on aggravated DUI charges, according to MMA Mania. The arrest violates probation terms from a 2025 gun incident that landed him five years of supervised release.

Sanchez received the probation in May 2026 after being arrested the previous July for firing a weapon from a moving vehicle. No additional details about Monday's arrest have been released beyond the DUI and probation violation charges.

From TUF Champion To Legal Troubles

The middleweight won Season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2005, the reality show that helped UFC climb out of more than $40 million in debt. Sanchez fought for the promotion until 2020, when his partnership with controversial coach Joshua Fabia led to his release.

A Vice TV documentary on Sanchez's final years with the organization detailed his struggles with substance abuse. Fabia became both his manager and trainer despite having no combat sports background. Video emerged of Fabia chasing students with a knife and repeatedly punching a suspended Sanchez in the head during training sessions.

Sanchez later told Vice producers that he feared for his life under Fabia's control, stating he thought "this guy was gonna kill me or I was gonna have to kill him" to escape the relationship. He ultimately paid Fabia $100,000 to end their working arrangement.

UFC released Sanchez after Fabia requested the fighter's complete medical records, which Sanchez admitted was preparation for a CTE-related lawsuit against the promotion. The new charges suggest his substance abuse issues remain unresolved nearly two years after the documentary aired.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Diego Sanchez arrested for DUI, probation violation in New Mexico