Former UFC star Diego Sanchez arrested on aggravated DWI charge

Former UFC veteran Diego Sanchez was arrested in Socorro County, New Mexico, on September 7 on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated and probation violation, marking another legal setback for the longtime mixed martial artist.

Police responded to a Valero gas station north of Socorro after an employee reported that a man had followed a woman to a restroom and was banging on the door. Officers found Sanchez stumbling and attempted field sobriety testing but halted the evaluation due to safety concerns. Court documents note that Sanchez struggled to maintain balance and had difficulty following instructions. He was booked on the aggravated DWI charge and additionally cited for violating the terms of his probation.

This arrest follows a previous 2025 incident in Albuquerque in which Sanchez fired a gun into the air while stuck in traffic, shouting, "I love Albuquerque. I love 505." He pleaded guilty in that case and received five years of supervised probation in March. At his sentencing, Sanchez stated: "All I can do is take accountability, own it, and spread positivity to the youth and the next generation to change these ways."

Court records indicate Sanchez has since violated probation conditions, including a June 16 test that came back positive for alcohol and cocaine. He spent the night in custody and appeared before a judge on the morning of September 8. The case underscores ongoing personal struggles for the veteran fighter, who competed in the UFC for over two decades before his departure.