Diego Sanchez, a beloved figure in UFC history, is transitioning to professional boxing, setting up a bout against fellow UFC veteran John Makdessi.
The fight is scheduled for the ICS Mania 1 card in Sanchez’s home state of New Mexico, marking a significant moment in his post-UFC career. Sanchez, known for his passionate fighting style and memorable moments in the Octagon, left the UFC in 2020 after a decision loss to Jake Matthews.
Since then, he’s continued to explore combat sports, including a decision loss to Kevin Lee in Eagle FC and a knockout loss to Austin Trout in a BKFC bout. In a recent interview, Sanchez expressed his excitement about his professional boxing debut, fulfilling a long-held dream.
It’s a dream come true,” Diego Sanchez said to KRQE. “I was there when Johnny Tapia fought there and I always had the dream of fighting there and that was even before the dream I had of fighting. Later as I got older and I was in the UFC, I always worked hard to try and get the UFC there and it never happened. We know that the ghost of Johnny Tapia, I know he is going to be there, and yeah maybe he will be haunting our opponents.
I am ready to go in there and beat this dude with one hand, you know because this isn’t kickboxing, this isn’t the UFC,” Sanchez explained. “I am going to put pressure, I am going to put pace, and I am going to fight for Albuquerque, I am going to fight for New Mexico. I am going to go in there and I am going to put it on this guy.
