Diego Sanchez Not Retiring, Vows To Return Stronger After Latest Defeat

UFC Ultimate Fighter 1 middleweight winner Diego Sanchez was knocked out by Al Iaquinta in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 108.

Sanchez has lost five of his last eight fights under the UFC banner and throughout his 37 fight professional MMA career, but has only been finished by strikes three times.

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Following the defeat at UFC Fight Night 108, members of the MMA community started calling for the retirement of Diego Sanchez.

Upon hearing the cries from the MMA community, the fighter took to Instagram to not only say he isn’t retiring, but plans on coming back stronger than ever.

 

This is a heart felt message for all the supporters of what I do but more importantly what I stand for as a athlete a man and warrior of the octagon, after evaluating the situation with a clear mind I have two options? The first is to feel sorry for myself start doubting myself, god and everything that makes me a winner? Thinking negative like many people would and even are the people that are not in my shoes the people who have no clue and just are so fast to throw out retirement and this and that? YOUR NOT ME! So just shut your mouths right now before even saying it, ITS NOT YOURS TO SAY! I speak from the heart and do not sugar coat SHIT! so there's that path the quitters path? Or there is the DIEGO path what being a Lionheart is all about it's about picking your self up when you fall learning how you fell and how to prevent it from happening again? This was the first KO of my career some fighters experience it more than ounce in over a decade of fighting the very best UFC has put in front of a man. Loosing is a part of this sport, I choose to believe in my god given abilities and had work earned talent! I choose to believe in my dream! I am confident, I am experienced, i am still very healthy, young for my physical age and more driven and hungry for success than ever. So I choose to continue to roar like a lion for the lord Jesus and do what I do and that's fight ON! To all my fans and friends that believe in me I love you guys! To all my family that loves me and has there concerns let me assure you I have been tested at the best facilities In The world my cognitive health is the same if not better than it's ever been I'm sharp sober minded and extremely healthy so I know it hurts to see a warrior you love fall but it's part of it and when I am no longer able to compete with the best fighters in the world i will look to what is next! As for now I'm a beast that got caught with a perfect shot I'm all good and will be back with adjustments that will prevent that from ever happening again! So today I thank god I was not injured In The fight , I still have a iron jaw and a lion heart and a sober mind. You doubters you gonna doubt it's what do

A post shared by Diego Sanchez (@diegonightmaresanchezufc) on Apr 24, 2017 at 11:34am PDT

The TUF champion is one of the longest tenured fighters currently under a UFC deal, having been with the promotion for over twelve years now. During that decade-plus in the UFC, the fighters earned notable wins over Kenny Florian, Nick Diaz, Karo Parisyan, Joe Riggs, Joe Stevenson, Clay Guida, Martin Kampmann, Takanori Gomi, Ross Pearson, Jim Miller and Marcin Held.