Diego Sanchez’s recent exit from the UFC days out from a proposed fight with fellow veteran Donald Cerrone has shone further light on Sanchez’s association with controversial trainer Joshua Fabia.
It was reported that Sanchez was issued with his walking papers after failing to convince UFC officials of both his physical and mental wellbeing in advance of the axed Cerrone fight. This came after footage was leaked showing Fabia arguing with members of the UFC commentary and production team, including Jon Anik, Megan Olivi and Paul Felder. Fabia was widely criticised for his actions and tone subsequently.
However, further footage would later emerge showing Sanchez and Fabia involved in a very unconventional method of training in which Sanchez was suspended upside down while Fabia punched and kicked him (with little power).
Asks for his medical records but throws strikes at him as he’s suspended upside down. Ok. Think we need to look at your records, Fabia. pic.twitter.com/XAhL5CMfiA
— MS (@UFC_Obsessed) May 8, 2021
Jon Jones, a former training partner of Sanchez’s, was among those to have been perturbed at the footage.
“I am without words, really disgusted,” Jones wrote in a since-deleted tweet, as noted by MMA Fighting. “As a person that knows Diego, this is the last thing he needs.”
Fabia has been involved with Sanchez since he fought Mickey Gall in March 2019, a fight he won by TKO. Since then under Fabia’s tutelage, Sanchez was defeated by Michael Chiesa and Jake Matthews while he picked up a DQ win against Michel Pereira in a fight in which he was down on the scorecards.
