In 2005, Diego Sanchez won the first installment of “The Ultimate Fighter,” and he’s still trucking to this day.
One of the most unique characters to ever grace the show, Sanchez stood out for his unique ways of portraying his passion and intensity. From doing yoga in the rain, to wrapping his oil-filled body with cling film, Sanchez definitely drew a lot of eyeballs for his personality.
But he stood out for his fighting, too, tearing through competition with wins over Alex Karalexis, Josh Rafferty, Josh Koscheck, and eventually Kenny Florian in the finals to win the show as a middleweight.
Fifteen years after winning “TUF,” Sanchez (31-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) returns to action this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN+ 25 in his home state of New Mexico, where he takes on high-flying Michel Pereira.
It will be former UFC lightweight title challenger Sanchez’s 31st UFC fight, where he’s remarkably competed in four different weight classes. Since his most recent return to 170 pounds, Sanchez has gone 2-2, picking up wins over Craig White and Mickey Gall.
Before he makes the walk on Saturday, check out some of his best highlights and journey during his tenure on the “The Ultimate Fighter” in the video above.
Take a trip down memory lane with the original 'Ultimate Fighter,' Diego Sanchez