Diego Sanchez Says Final Fight Could be at UFC 253

Diego Sanchez has four fights left on his current UFC contract, and currently, he hopes to compete in them all. But, recently the 38-year-old also reported his upcoming bout with Jake Matthews, could end up being the final fight of his remarkable career.

Sanchez leaves door open to retirement at UFC 253

The TUF 1 winner is booked to fight Matthews at UFC 253, which will go down on September 26th. The bout will be the 43rd of Sanchez’s 15 years, plus career.

Due to all the wars Sanchez has been in, and because he’s pushing 40, speculation about when he could retire has been making the rounds for a while. Sanchez, however, has repeatedly insisted he’s healthy and has dismissed calls for him to retire.

But, while talking to Mike Swick recently, Sanchez confirmed that UFC 253 could mark the final fight of his career. Sanchez told Swick that he intends to complete his current deal, but when Swick noted Sanchez doesn’t have to do that, he said this (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“This could be my last fight,” Sanchez said. “This fight coming up. I will be fighting Sept. 26, Jake Matthews, location to be announced, so I don’t know if it’s going to be Fight Island, I don’t know if it’s going to be Vegas.

They have me, I’m on deck, it’s my time to get on them wrestling mats and go to work, I don’t know where it’s gonna be.

“I’m just grateful to have an opportunity through the crisis, coronavirus, and everything that’s going on all around the world, I have an opportunity.

I’m just grateful to have any opportunity right now, because opportunity’s not just jumping around like it used to.

You get an opportunity to make some good money, help your family, establish your future, you’ve got to jump on it.

They sent me this contract, six weeks to get your ass in shape, Diego, and get your ass to the UFC and fight. I’m like, alright, we’re doing this.”

And while relaying his plan to complete his UFC deal, Sanchez stated this.

“Look, here we go, I’ve got four more left,” Sanchez said. “I’ve signed my last contract with the UFC.

I’m gonna ride these last four fights out and I’m done.

I can see at the end of the tunnel, I can see that light, but I’m not afraid of it anymore.

Before, for so many years I used to be like, ‘No, I’m not even gonna think about that. I’m not gonna think about retirement.’

What could prompt retirement next month?

So, reading between the lines here, one could conclude that a bad loss against Matthews, could prompt Sanchez to retire. If Sanchez does incur another KO loss, there will certainly be calls for him to hang up the gloves. 

Although he’s won three of his last four bouts, Sanchez took home heavy shots in his disqualification win over Michel Pereira. Further, in 2017, he suffered back-to-back KO losses against Al Iaquinta and Matt Brown.