MMA Star Diego Sanchez Arrested in Albuquerque

MMA star Diego Sanchez—best known for winning the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter—is in hot water after an alleged roadside shooting in Albuquerque on Thursday, July 17.

According to Bernalillo County court documents obtained by KOAT Action News, Albuquerque police were assisting with a traffic collision on Interstate 40 near the University Boulevard exit when a white Jeep Gladiator rolled past and a single gunshot rang out. Police service aides on scene reported seeing the Jeep’s passenger, later identified as Sanchez, fire the round.

Officers tailed the Jeep to the Sixth Street exit, executed a felony stop, and took both occupants into custody. Sanchez, 43, immediately acknowledged a firearm was inside the vehicle but denied pulling the trigger. The driver, who isn’t facing charges, told investigators that the MMA star did shoot out of the window, then laughed about it as they drove away.

A search of the Jeep turned up two live rounds, a spent casing on the passenger side, and the handgun tucked into the back pocket of the driver’s seat. Sanchez now faces two felony counts: shooting at or from a motor vehicle and negligent use of a deadly weapon. He remains behind bars awaiting his first court appearance.

The arrest marks another dramatic twist in a career that already reads like a script. Over nearly two decades in the cage, the Albuquerque native racked up a 31‑14 record, challenged B.J. Penn for the UFC lightweight title, and earned a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame for his all-action 2009 brawl with Clay Guida, per TMZ Sports. Sanchez last competed under the UFC banner in 2020, dropping a decision to Jake Matthews, and fought his final MMA bout in 2022 against Kevin Lee.

Sanchez has not yet released a comment about the matter.