Longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran, Diego Sanchez, told me way back in 2008 that his heart “wasn’t feeling it” after the Jackson-Wink MMA gym in Albuquerque, New Mexico, took a little something from his heart by training Georges St-Pierre back when both “Nightmare” and “Rush” were two of the world’s best welterweights.
So no, I’m not surprised that Sanchez got fed up with playing second (or third) fiddle, which is understandable when you consider who else is training there. Like reigning light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, and former women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm, who are both gearing up for their respective title fights at UFC 239.
“For this time in my career, there was no focus on Diego,” Sanchez told MMA Junkie. “There was no real love on Diego Sanchez. Maybe because we’ve got two belt fights, Jon and Holly, but you know what? I don’t give a (expletive). I don’t give a (expletive). I’m Diego Sanchez. I am special. I’m a Hall of Famer.”
Sanchez, 37, is also preparing for caged combat on July 6 in Las Vegas, as he takes on fellow Ultimate Fighter (TUF) champion, Michael Chiesa. The 29-11 “Nightmare” is currently riding back-to-back wins for the first time since 2011.
“All I know is I wasn’t learning,” Sanchez said. “I wasn’t growing as a mixed martial artist, that they were teaching me with the knowledge and information as trainers that they were doing. They were just basically going through the motions with Diego Sanchez.”
Every fighter must do what’s best for themselves in this cutthroat business, I just hope Sanchez plans on apologizing to Donald Cerrone.