UFC Releases Diego Sanchez, New Opponent Sought For Donald Cerrone

Diego Sanchez’s 16-year UFC run is at an end. Dana White has confirmed with ESPN that Sanchez was released from the company following a social media post where he said he was “free at last” and tagged Bellator MMA, ONE Championship, and other promotions. White said that the company terminated his contract on Tuesday and that his scheduled fight against Donald Cerrone on May 8th has been cancelled.

White said that Sanchez’s head coach Joshua Fabia had requested every medica dociment the UFC has received during Sanchez’s career so he could process his medicals for the fight with Cerrone. The UFC asked Fabia and Sanchez to provide assurances that there were no medical issues regarding Sanchez’s short-term or long-term health, and White said that an attorney said on Sanchez’s behalf that he could not make such an assurance as he isn’t a doctor and has not recently had a neurological evaluation. That led to the UFC’s decision to cancel the fight and release Sanchez.

The UFC is looking for a replacement opponent for Cerrone for the UFC Fight Night show.