Fight fans react to Diego Sanchez’s recent felony arrest, smiling mugshot: ‘He’s on his BJ Penn sh-t’

Is Diego Sanchez following in the footsteps of fellow UFC legend BJ Penn?

Some fight fans think so after learning of Sanchez’s arrest Friday morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The former UFC standout was brought in on multiple gun charges, including a fourth-degree felony for shooting from a motor vehicle. Luckily, nobody was harmed during the incident.

According to a report obtained by MMA Fighting, Sanchez fired a gun out of a passenger side car window while he was driving by a crash. The police then followed the car and eventually arrested Sanchez. The former UFC fighter admitted to having a gun in the car, but denied firing the shot. The driver of the car confirmed that Sanchez did in fact fire out of the window. Reps for Sanchez are saying this could be a result of recent struggles with substance abuse.

Sadly, this is not the first former UFC legend to run into legal trouble this year. Outside of Jon Jones’ recent issues in Albuquerque, former UFC champion B.J. Penn has also had a hard time staying out of trouble. This past June, Penn was arrested once more for violating a restraining order set forth by his own mother following a series of alarming domestic issues.

See Sanchez’s mugshot below:

Sanchez, who was last seen competing in a bareknuckle boxing match back in Feb. 2023, still has a long way to go before he catches up to Penn, but fight fans are already concerned. Believe it or not, some weren’t all that surprised to see Sanchez land in hot water post-UFC.

Check out some of the reaction to Sanchez’s arrest below:

“Surprised it took this long.”

“Coulda told you this was an inevitability when he let his coach hang him upside down like a side of beef.”

“He seems happy about it.”

“He’s on his BJ Penn shit. Who can take it further?”

“The mugshot is more or less how I pictured it to be.”

“That might be the most sane photo I’ve seen of Diego.”

“I hope it was against his former “coach.”

“Okay with BJ and now this I think we’ve finally reached out first wave of guys with CTE.”

“Where does Jones fit in here?”

“The Greg Jackson curse.”

Stick with Mania for news on Sanchez’s recent arrest.