UFC Hall of Famer Diego Sanchez has shared some insight on the way the promotion treated him and his team following his last fight at UFC 253 against Jake Matthews in Abu Dhabi.
Sanchez shared the following post via his Instagram account detailing how he and his entire team were left at the airport following his matchup with Matthews after returning from Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, something Sanchez says he's never experienced in his 18-year tenure with the company. In the video of the post, one of Sanchez's coaches Joshua Fabia expressed the treatment they were given by UFC representatives following landing, and how Sanchez whose left foot was clearly injured in the fight was given no real care from anyone inside of the promotion.
"So we just got back from Abu Dhabi, Diego got off the plane, got a little bit of a limp," Fabia said. "Having to walk slow and go to the restroom. And as all the people from the UFC went ahead of us, and not one representative cared to look back and see where we were at. They all went to baggage claim and they all went on a bus, and somehow loaded up and left. Us, sitting here in the airport so that Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez is stuck getting food out of a fucking vending machine. This is our reality, so when I'm telling you the UFC is not respectful or doing Diego right, this is what I'm talking about!"
The middleweight winner of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and holder of over 30+ fights inside of the Octagon left the following comment under the post defending himself from some of the backlash his post was receiving. He once again stated that the lack of care shown towards his team from the promotion after putting on the kind of fight he did against Matthews and given all Sanchez has done for the company was the main issue. Sanchez will face Donald Cerrone at UFC Vegas 26 on May 8 in what is expected to be his final fight before retirement.
By the way, we were on the UFC schedule and on perfect time. Plus I'm a injured athlete but no real fans would talk shit cause it is that ridiculous to leave me the last to get off the plane and nobody cared to notice a injured athlete not on on the bus to go to hotel. Pretty Simple.
Fightful has all of your MMA needs covered. Follow us on Twitter for updates, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, lists, news updates, and predictions.
