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Diego Sanchez isn’t feeling the 17 years of MMA competition on his body.
2020 marks the 18th year of Diego Sanchez’s professional mixed martial arts career. And as he continues to push on, the 38-year-old veteran fighter says he is still growing.
“I have an objective and that is to go in there and pull off the most cleanest, precision, razor-sharp skills,” Sanchez told MMA Mania. “I’m going out there to display my skills. I have a skillset.
“I have been training for a long time and this year I have a lot of new techniques, movements and mindsets to my MMA IQ. With this, I’m going out there to show you a whole new and improved, adapted Diego Sanchez. I have adapted once again. I have evolved once again.”
“The Nightmare” has gone through the toughest of competitors through three weight classes in the UFC alone. While his body has taken a toll, he says he still feels the same vigor from his early years of fighting.
“That is why I am still here and holding the longest UFC career,” he said. “This is something that people don’t really talks about so much. I’m still here. Ain’t no one keep me out. You go look back and look at The Ultimate Fighter season one, ain’t nobody looking this young and fresh.
“Ain’t no one taking 1,672 strikes. Ain’t no one have 500 stitches on his face and still looking clean,” Sanchez continued. “Still being able to speak. These are things that I’m bringing into the cage.”
Sanchez is scheduled for his first fight this year at UFC Rio Rancho against Michel Pereira. It takes place on February 15th at the Santa Ana Star Center in New Mexico.