In recent weeks Diego Sanchez has been released from the UFC, claimed that the promotion might kill him and alleged that the UFC and Instagram are working in tandem to limit the reach of his ‘coach’ Joshua Fabia. All of this was set in motion when Sanchez released video of Fabia, the self-proclaimed healer and owner of School of Self-Awareness Worldwide LLC, making a bizarre and confrontational appearance at a UFC media meeting.
Since then footage of Fabia and Sanchez participating in unusual training exercises has made the rounds. In that footage, Sanchez hangs upside down from the ceiling while Fabia slaps and kicks him around the head.
Asks for his medical records but throws strikes at him as he’s suspended upside down. Ok. Think we need to look at your records, Fabia. pic.twitter.com/XAhL5CMfiA
— MS (@UFC_Obsessed) May 8, 2021
That footage has lead to condemnation of Fabia from various members of the MMA community.
Yesterday Jon Jones, a former long time teammate of Sanchez, added his voice to the chorus expressing concern for Sanchez. The former UFC light heavyweight champion tweeted, “I am without words, really disgusted. As a person that knows Diego, this is the last thing he needs.”
Jones’ words on the matter would not last long, though. ‘Bones’ deleted those sentiments soon after they were released.
Sanchez worked with Fabia in 2019 ahead of his win over Mickey Gall at UFC 235. For his next fight, versus Michael Chiesa at UFC 239, Fabia was the only person in Sanchez’s corner.
Prior to this Sanchez was a member of Jackson Winkeljohn MMA. With Jones, Sanchez was part of a generation of fighters that put that gym on the map.
Sanchez’s last UFC fight was a unanimous decision loss to Jake Matthews at UFC 253 last September. That loss dropped his overall record to 30-13. He is 5-5 in his last 10 contests.
Sanchez entered the UFC all the way back in 2005, by winning the first ever season of The Ultimate Fighter. His 18 UFC wins is tied seventh for most all-time wins and his seven Fight of the Night awards is tied for second all-time.
In 2019 Sanchez, along with his cast mates from TUF 1, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
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