UFC Ultimate Fighter 1 winner Diego Sanchez left team Jackson/Winkeljohn a few months back and in his last bout at UFC 239, was cornered by just one person.
Coach Mike Winkeljohn said an incident where he confronted Sanchez and his training partner is what lead to Sanchez leaving the gym.
“All I know is one day there was some goofball in our gym working with Diego Sanchez on stuff that is quite comical to watch. I did approach that guy and said what are you guys working on,” he said to BJPenn.com. “Pretty much as soon as I tried to figure out what he was doing and tried to challenge him about the situation, the next thing I know is we were all fired. It is what it is. If it works for Diego I guess it works for Diego. We run our gym for a certain reason and we have been successful at it.”
Sanchez hasn’t joined another fight team at this time and is reportedly a free agent at the moment.
Whenever somebody approaches Winkeljohn about the status of Sanchez, a simple answer is all the coach gives.
“No, he is not back. I just tell people he is on vacation. I have no idea what is going on with that young man. He is just Diego Sanchez,” Winkeljohn said. “If you have watched Diego Sanchez over the years you know what I am talking about. He has a gigantic heart but who knows why he does what he does. But, all I know is we will keep working at the gym and see what he does.”
There is no word at this time as to what is next for Sanchez, as the fighter doesn’t have anything booked since the aforementioned loss at UFC 239.
