Former UFC star Diego Sanchez has been arrested once again in New Mexico. The 44-year-old MMA legend was booked by authorities in Socorro County on charges of aggravated driving under the influence (DWI) and violating the terms of his probation.
Details of the arrest
According to local jail records, Sanchez was taken into custody on Monday afternoon and is currently being held at the Socorro County Jail.
While exact details surrounding the traffic stop remain sparse, the aggravated DWI charge triggered an automatic probation violation following his prior legal issues.
A history of legal issues
The recent arrest comes just months after Sanchez was placed on five years of supervised probation following a 2025 firearm incident. In that case, he was accused of firing a gun from a moving vehicle on an Albuquerque highway.
A key requirement of his five-year probation agreement was strict adherence to law and complete abstention from alcohol.
A legendary fighting career
Known to fans as “The Nightmare,” Sanchez built an iconic legacy inside the Octagon. He first rose to fame after winning season one of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2005 and went on to compete 32 times in the promotion including a title fight against B.J. Penn.
However, his storied sports career has increasingly been shadowed by outside-the-cage controversies, mental health struggles and repeated legal troubles.
