Sanchez shares ‘evil’ COVID ordeal, slams Covington for ‘common cold’ remark

Diego Sanchez during his UFC 239 fight with Michael Chiesa in 2019. | Photo by Christian Petersen/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC

Diego Sanchez shared his experience dealing with COVID-19, along with his disapproval towards Colby C…


Diego Sanchez during his UFC 239 fight with Michael Chiesa in 2019.
Diego Sanchez during his UFC 239 fight with Michael Chiesa in 2019. | Photo by Christian Petersen/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC

Diego Sanchez shared his experience dealing with COVID-19, along with his disapproval towards Colby Covington’s remarks.

As we all know by now, COVID-19 spares no one, not even young and fit UFC athletes. Many fighters in the roster have gone through their respective battles with the virus, with a few of them dealing with severe and long-term cases.

The most recent statistic: UFC veteran and TUF 1 alum Diego Sanchez. In a recent tweet, the 39-year-old fighter briefly described his ordeal. He also took a shot at loud-talking welterweight contender Colby Covington, who had repeatedly talked disparagingly about the threat of the disease.

“Shitting, coughing, pukin, constant hot cold fevers, pain in every joint, migraines, 5 days no sleep and constantly short of breath. My boy @luisbaboon warned me I had no idea it was this evil!!! @ColbyCovMMA was talkin that shit saying it’s just a common cold. (prayers) for all the sick,” Sanchez wrote.

During a UFC 268 pre-fight media scrum, Covington took a shot at Khamzat Chimaev for hinting at retirement because of his own COVID battle.

“He was ready to retire off the common cold,” Covington said of Chimaev. “That’s a 99.9 percent survival rate to beat the common cold. ‘C-mshot’ Chimaev was ready to give it up and retire. He doesn’t want to fight me. He has a way less chance than 99.9 percent chance against me.”

As for Sanchez, he’s recently been in talks with BKFC president David Feldman for a possible transition into bare-knuckle boxing. In late April, he ended his 16-year professional relationship with the UFC, followed by the dissolution of his partnership with controversial mentor Joshua Fabia.