“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 winner Diego Sanchez says he wasn’t at 100 percent in his losing effort against Jake Matthews at UFC 253 this past Saturday.
In an Instagram post Thursday, Sanchez (30-13 MMA, 19-13 UFC) revealed he competed in his fight against Matthews (17-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) with a torn labrum in his left hip.
“Warriors don’t always win they do however always survive! I took a fight on the other side of the world on a months notice, fought my fourth primed 26 year old out of the last five opponents. With a torn labrum in my left hip! I positively pressed the fight with a streaking 5-1 welterweight prospect. Had a face to face with @danawhite with not one negative word only respect and love. I might have some haters but that’s only a accurate identification of successfulness. Made it my 36 trip to the octagon. Today I will get treatment on my torn labrum.”
Although he hung with Matthews for the full 15 minutes, Sanchez was on the losing end of a lopsided unanimous decision. All three judges scored the contest 30-26.
After the fight, UFC president Dana White voiced uncertainty about Sanchez’s future. Although Sanchez has won three of his past five, he’s 38 and has fought for the promotion since 2005.
“I love Diego Sanchez, and I don’t know,” White said at the UFC 253 post-fight news conference. “It’s something I’ve got to think about, and it’s obviously something that I’ve got to talk to the guys about back when we get home in the office and see what everybody thinks. I’ve got these guys now – you’ve got Diego Sanchez, who fights his heart out every time he fights. He was part of ‘TUF 1.’ Everybody knows how I feel about those guys, and he’s just a great person.”
Check out Diego Sanchez’s full Instagram post below:
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