TLDR
- Diego Sanchez, 44, was arrested Monday in Socorro, New Mexico, on charges of aggravated DUI and probation violation
- The arrest occurred while Sanchez was serving a five-year supervised probation sentence from March 2025
- His probation stemmed from a July 2025 arrest for shooting a loaded gun from a moving vehicle on a highway
- Sanchez previously acknowledged substance abuse and mental health issues as contributing factors to his legal troubles
- The former UFC star competed 22 times in the organization from 2005 to 2022 and was a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter Season 1
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | mmajunkie.usatoday.com | youtube.com
Former UFC fighter Diego Sanchez has been arrested in New Mexico on charges of aggravated driving under the influence and probation violation. The 44-year-old was booked Monday at 5:17 p.m. local time in Socorro, according to online jail records.
Local news outlet KOB4 first reported the arrest. No further details about the circumstances of the arrest have been released at this time.
The arrest comes while Sanchez is serving a five-year supervised probation sentence. He received that sentence in March after an arrest in July 2025 for shooting a loaded gun out of the window of a car.
Previous Legal Troubles
Sanchez was riding as a passenger when he fired the weapon from the moving vehicle on a highway. Prosecutors had asked for a two-year prison sentence for the fourth-degree felony charge of shooting at or from a motor vehicle.
A second charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon was dropped as part of a plea agreement. The judge ultimately decided on supervised probation instead of prison time.
That time Diego Sanchez thought he was Jorge Masvidal 😅😂 pic.twitter.com/NSGpKnKnbN
— Combat Casuals (@Combat_Casuals) July 24, 2026
After receiving his sentence, Sanchez said he accepted responsibility for his actions. He cited substance abuse issues and mental health problems as contributing factors to the incident.
Sanchez stated he was seeking help for both issues at the time of the shooting. The judge’s decision to impose probation rather than prison time gave him the opportunity to continue treatment.
Fighting Career Background
Sanchez became one of the most recognizable faces from the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show. That season aired in 2005 and helped launch the UFC into mainstream popularity.
He competed 22 times inside the UFC octagon from 2005 to 2022. His fighting career spanned nearly two decades with the promotion.
Sanchez left the UFC in 2021 but competed with the organization once more in 2022. After departing from the UFC, he fought once for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in February 2023.
That BKFC appearance marked his most recent combat sports competition. He has not competed professionally since that bout more than two years ago.
The aggravated DUI charge suggests a more serious offense than a standard DUI. Aggravated DUI charges in New Mexico can result from factors like having a very high blood alcohol content, causing injury, or having prior DUI convictions.
The probation violation charge stems from his current supervised probation status. Violating the terms of probation can result in the original prison sentence being imposed.
Sanchez remains in custody in Socorro as of Monday evening. Information about bail or a court appearance date has not been made public.
