Diego
Sanchez is worried that his willingness to air grievances with
the UFC could come back to haunt him.
“The Ultimate Fighter 1” winner was supposed to face Donald
Cerrone in the UFC on ESPN 24 co-main event, but was released
from the promotion last week after trainer and manager Joshua Fabia
requested Sanchez’s medical records, which led to concern from the
organization regarding the fighter’s health.
Sanchez later posted a few videos on his Instagram account showing
Fabia involved in arguments with the UFC commentary team, with the
coach accusing the broadcast booth of casting Sanchez in an
unfavorable light.
Sanchez gave a lenghty interview on Sirius XM’s “MMA Today” in
which he expressed concern about how the UFC might react to his
comments regarding how the Las Vegas-based promotion treats
fighters upon being released.
“I’m going to tell you guys frankly, right now, I’m fearful for my
motherf—-ing life,” Sanchez said (transcription via
MMAjunkie.com). “I’m fearful that this company, this
billion-dollar monopoly company worldwide is going to come after
me. Something might happen to me in two years, maybe in a couple
years. Maybe I wreck my truck. Maybe, ‘Oh, Diego overdosed, some
suicide s—t.’ I don’t know, but I would not put anything past the
level of evil that is within this corporation.
“…If I was to expose some of the stuff that I know about, because
I’ve been in this motherf—-er longer than than anybody else and
been the only one that survived the b—h, that went through the dark
tunnel and came out the other side.”
Sanchez was moved to tears during the interview, which lasted more
than 40 minutes. “The Nightmare” revealed that he has been snubbed
in his attempts to secure a meeting with UFC president Dana
White.
What’s up, Dana? Man, I tried for two years to get a meeting with
you,” Sanchez said. “Oh s—t. I was the first ‘Ultimate Fighter.’
Didn’t that show do something for the company when it was $60
million in debt? Oh, all those ‘Fight of the Night’ [bonuses]. All
that TV time [on] Spike TV, Fox TV, ESPN, all of them, and you
can’t meet with your boy? I’m there in Vegas training. I’m going to
Vegas, and I’m training there weeks on weeks on weeks. I put 60 to
70 weeks in the UFC PI, just to try to get a meeting with you,
Dana. Just to try to meet you in crossing.
“But you won’t meet with me? Because you don’t want to hear what I
have to say? You don’t want to talk to me? You don’t want to talk
to my bats—t crazy manager? Why? Because he might bring some light?
He might bring some awareness to what you’re hiding in the dark?
I’m still open to meeting with you, Dana. Be a f—ing man. Be a real
f—ing boss, when I’ve bled, I’ve sweat, I’ve f—-ing cried. I’ve
f—ing cried for this f—ing company. I’ve f—ing sacrificed more than
you will ever know. And you can’t f—ing have 45 minutes to meet
with me?”