UFC Hall of Famer Arrested After Alleged Highway Shooting Incident: Report

UFC Hall of Famer Arrested After Alleged Highway Shooting Incident: Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Authorities investigate highway gunfire after shocking arrest of MMA veteran.

An alarming highway incident is under investigation after authorities reported that gunfire erupted from a moving vehicle. The situation unfolded near a crash scene along one of Albuquerque’s busiest interstates, sparking immediate law enforcement action and the arrest of a combat sports legend. The case has left many in shock as details continue to emerge about what transpired on the road.

According to KRQE News, the individual arrested was Diego Sanchez, a UFC Hall of Fame inductee and Albuquerque native.

Court records indicate the incident happened on I-40 west at University Avenue when police service aides claimed they saw a passenger fire a round from a Jeep Gladiator. Officers quickly tracked the vehicle and initiated a stop near the 6th Street exit and West Frontage Road.

Sanchez reportedly denied firing the weapon but admitted there was a gun in the vehicle. The driver, who faces no charges, told officers Sanchez fired the shot and even laughed afterward. A search of the Jeep revealed three live rounds, a spent casing on the passenger side, and an empty Glock 42 in the rear pocket of the driver’s seat.

Sanchez, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern MMA and the first-ever winner of The Ultimate Fighter, now faces charges of shooting at or from a motor vehicle and negligent use of a firearm. The report from KRQE.com underscores the legal storm surrounding the former UFC star, leaving fans stunned and the MMA community reeling.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.