New Mexico native Diego Sanchez is one of the more unique fighters competing in the UFC. His personality, at times laid back and at times volatile and aggressive, causes most fans to either love him or hate him. He has remained one of the most aggressive and complete fighters in the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight divisions for the past several years.

Sanchez first rose to prominence on the local MMA scene in New Mexico, winning the King of the Cage Welterweight Championship after compiling a professional record of 11-0 from 2002-2004, with notable victories over Mike Guymon (by armbar) and Jorge Santiago along the way. Sanchez’s big break came in 2005, when he competed in and won the debut season of Spike TV’s popular reality show “The Ultimate Fighter,” swarming on and overwhelming the smaller Kenny Florian in the live finale to win by TKO in the first round. Sanchez distinguished himself on the star-packed first season of the hit series as much for his eccentric demeanor as for his in-cage tenacity.

After defeating Florian at 185, Sanchez dropped to 170 lbs. and compiled five straight victories, including wins over Nick Diaz, John Alessio, Karo Parisyan, and Joe Riggs, before losing the first fight of his professional career to bitter rival Josh Koscheck in 2007. Since then, Sanchez has alternated between the welterweight and lightweight divisions, defeating the likes of Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida and battling Lightweight Champion BJ Penn in a losing effort in 2009.

Sanchez is a black belt in Gaidojutsu, the fighting style created and taught by MMA trainer Greg Jackson, and he is also highly ranked in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At the beginning of his career he took most of his opponents to the ground and attempted to finish by TKO or submission, but Sanchez has changed up his game to incorporate more kickboxing and clinch work in recent years. He won a World MMA Award in 2009 for Fight of the Year (vs. Clay Guida), as well as recognition in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for Fight of the Year in 2006 (vs. Karo Parisyan), and again in 2009 for the Guida fight. Whether or not Sanchex achieves a UFC title, he can consistently be counted on for arriving in the Octagon in top shape, fired up and ready for a war.