Diego Sanchez: Shut your mouths about retirement

Diego Sanchez has an extraordinarily exciting fighting style. The Nightmare is always intent on finishing the fight, and pays little heed the cost, like getting hit. He was never knocked out in his first 34 fights, but at UFC 200, Joe Lauzon dropped him in 86 seconds. Sanchez rebounded with a win over Marcin Held, but on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 108, he lost again via KO, this time in 98 seconds.

A number of fans and fellow fighters expressed hope that at 35, he would give retiring some consideration. That is not happening.

“This is a heartfelt message for all the supporters of what I do, but more importantly what I stand for as an athlete, a man, and warrior of the Octagon,” wrote Sanchez on his social network. “After evaluating the situation with a clear mind I have two options.

“The first is to feel sorry for myself, start doubting myself, God and everything that makes me a winner. Thinking negative like many people would and even are, the people that are not in my shoes, the people who have no clue and just are so fast to throw out retirement and this and that? YOU’RE NOT ME! So just shut your mouths right now before even saying it, IT’S NOT YOURS TO SAY! I speak from the heart and do not sugar coat S***! So there’s that path – the quitter’s path.

“Or there is the DIEGO path what being a Lionheart is all about it’s about picking yourself up when you fall, learning how you fell, and how to prevent it from happening again. This was the first KO of my career; some fighters experience it more than once in over a decade of fighting the very best UFC has put in front of a man. Losing is a part of this sport, I choose to believe in my God-given abilities and hard work earned talent! I choose to believe in my dream! I am confident, I am experienced, I am still very healthy, young for my physical age, and more driven and hungry for success than ever. So I choose to continue to roar like a lion for the lord Jesus and do what I do and that’s fight ON!

“To all my fans and friends that believe in me, I love you guys! To all my family that loves me and has their concerns, let me assure you I have been tested at the best facilities in the world. My cognitive health is the same if not better than it’s ever been. I’m sharp, sober-minded, and extremely healthy. So I know it hurts to see a warrior you love fall but it’s part of it and when I am no longer able to compete with the best fighters in the world I will look to what is next! As for now, I’m a beast that got caught with a perfect shot. I’m all good and will be back with adjustments that will prevent that from ever happening again!

“So today I thank God I was not injured In the fight. I still have an iron jaw and a lion heart and a sober mind. You doubters you gonna doubt, it’s what [you] do.”