Retired UFC fighter Diego Sanchez arrested for drunk driving

Retired UFC fighter Diego Sanchez has been arrested on drunk driving charges in Socorro County, New Mexico, and spent the night in jail following his Monday arrest. According to online court records, Sanchez was charged with aggravated driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level exceeding .16, as well as a probation violation.

The arrest comes less than a year after Sanchez struck a plea deal in February 2025 in Albuquerque following his arrest on gun charges. He pleaded guilty to shooting at or from a motor vehicle—a fourth-degree felony—and was sentenced to five years of supervised probation. As a condition of that probation, Sanchez was explicitly ordered to abstain from alcohol, making the current drunk driving arrest a potential serious violation of his release terms.

Sanchez remains in custody at Socorro County Jail with no bond currently set for his release. The probation violation charge could trigger additional legal consequences, including potential incarceration or modification of his existing sentence. The arrest marks another legal setback for the veteran fighter, whose UFC career has been followed by an increasingly troubled period outside the cage.