Sanchez Vows To Retire ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone On May 8

Longtime UFC welterweight veteran Diego Sanchez, who captured the inaugural glass trophy on Season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), will make his final walk to the Octagon at the promotion’s upcoming “Fight Night” event on May 8.

“The Nightmare” battles fellow elder statesman Donald Cerrone, a three-round showdown that will also serve as “Cowboy’s” retirement fight.

He just doesn’t know it yet.

“I’m going to move in there so smooth, we’ll make this shit look easy,” Sanchez told Mike Swick (transcribed by MMA Junkie) “‘Cowboy,’ he might be planning on finishing out those five fights he signed when he signed the Conor McGregor deal, but as I’m ready for retirement, his ass better get ready for retirement too. He don’t know it, but this is probably going to be his retirement fight, too.”

Sanchez (30-13), who turns 40 at the end of the year, has struggled to stay consistent over the last several years, putting together a mediocre 5-5 record across his last 10 fights. “The Nightmare” was last seen getting outpointed by Jake Mathews at UFC 253.

As for Cerrone (36-15), now 38, he’s gone five straight fights without a win. That includes his “No Contest” against Niko Price at UFC Vegas 11 back in Sept. 2020. “Cowboy” may need to perform spectacularly to keep himself off the chopping block.

The May 8 card is expected to be headlined by the bantamweight showdown between TJ Dillashaw and Cory Sandhagen.