Diego Sanchez was ordered to serve 30 days in jail after a New Mexico judge ruled his September DWI arrest violated the probation he received for firing a gun during an Albuquerque traffic backup. According to KOB 4, Judge Stan Whitaker also ordered the Ultimate Fighter season one middleweight winner to complete a drug and alcohol rehab program.
The hearing took place Wednesday. Police arrested Sanchez on Sept. 7 in Socorro County on an aggravated DWI charge, as we reported at the time. His probation required him to remain sober, and court paperwork cited by KOB alleged he also tested positive for alcohol and cocaine on June 16.
Sanchez pleaded guilty and was sentenced in March over a July 2025 incident, when investigators said he fired a gun into the air while stuck in traffic on Interstate 40. He received five years of supervised probation and avoided a possible 6.5 years in jail.
What Happens Next
Whitaker reinstated the probation with a sanction and placed a zero-tolerance condition on the case. Prosecutors had wanted a harsher outcome. The judge acknowledged their concerns but said prison wasn’t warranted yet because this was a first offense.
He also warned Sanchez that another violation would likely mean custody. If Sanchez can’t make use of the programs, Whitaker said, “I will have no other choice.” A new violation could put the full 6.5 years back on the table.
Sanchez is also due for hip surgery, according to KOB, which he can’t get done until he’s out of jail. The aggravated DWI charge in Socorro County is still pending.
