Former UFC star and original Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Sanchez has been hospitalized after contracting COVID-19.
The 39-year old UFC legend and Hall of Fame member (in the Fight Wing, for his bout with Clay Guida) previously revealed he had been battling the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. While things were initially looking up, in a new post to social media, Sanchez revealed that he was dealing with low oxygen levels and pneumonia as a result of the virus.
Sanchez also revealed that blood clots had been found in both of his legs.
“Low oxygen numbers and a pneumonia. This has been some tying times,” Sanchez wrote, adding “didn’t even get a saltine cracker today.”
Blood clots in both my legs
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 26, 2021
The longtime veteran exited the UFC back in April, after pulling out of a fight with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Sanchez had been heavily criticized after working with coach Joshua Fabia, who runs something known as the “School of Self-Awareness” — which many observers saw as a con. Fabia had apparently requested Sanchez’s medical records from the UFC, potentially a contributing factor in his release; coach and fighter later went through a very public split of their own.
Sanchez has not fought since September of 2020, where he was defeated by Jake Matthews via unanimous decision at UFC 253. In his last five fights, Sanchez posted a 3-2 record, and had been eying a bout under the BKFC banner prior to contracting COVID-19.
