Former UFC veteran Diego Sanchez hospitalized amid lengthy COVID-19 battle

Longtime UFC veteran Diego Sanchez has been hospitalized after a lengthy battle with COVID-19, he announced on Twitter.

Sanchez, who has been keeping fans updated with his battle with the coronavirus for more than a week on social media, posted a photo on Thursday saying he has been hospitalized and dealing with complications with pneumonia.

Sanchez also said he has blood clots in both of his legs.

Sanchez said Saturday that it was his 27th day with the coronavirus, and that he was still in the hospital. He also shared an X-ray of his lungs on Instagram, saying his oxygen levels were significantly low.

Though he’s clearly dealing with a severe case of symptoms, Sanchez said he is still unvaccinated. He said that he isn’t “sold on the vax” yet, and that he’s “waiting for the best one to arrive.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not only approved initial doses of multiple coronavirus vaccines, but it endorsed booster shots of the vaccines for all Americans over 18 last week.

Sanchez spent more than 15 years in the UFC and compiled a 30-13 record, though he was dropped in May. A winner on Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Sanchez was dropped after concerns regarding the behavior of his longtime coach, Joshua Fabia. UFC president Dana White told Yahoo Sports in May that Fabia “is bats*** nuts” and that he couldn’t in good conscience put Sanchez into the Octagon.

Sanchez last fought at UFC 253 in September 2020, when he fell to Jake Matthews via unanimous decision.