UFC boss Dana White has singled out a controversial trainer for having a bad influence on recently axed star Diego Sanchez.
Sanchez, one of the longest-tenured athletes in the promotion's history, was cut by the UFC midweek ahead of his May 8 fight with Donald Cerrone on the UFC Fight Night card.
Sanchez's head coach, Joshua Fabia, recently requested every medical document the UFC has received during Sanchez's 15-year career with the company in order to process his medicals for the fight against Cerrone.
The UFC asked Sanchez and his team for assurances the fighter isn't suffering any medical problems regarding his short-term and long-term health. An attorney contacted the promotion on the fighter's behalf and claimed he couldn't ensure his health was not compromised because he wasn't a physician and the MMA star had not recently received a neurological evaluation.
The UFC then cut ties with Sanchez and cancelled his fight with Cerrone which led to Sanchez posting "Free at last" on his personal Instagram.
In response, to Sanchez's departure and reaction online, White pointed the finger at the fighter's trainer.
"I have an incredible, amazing relationship with Diego, and I like him very much, and I hope he is OK," White told Yahoo Sports. "One of the sad things that happens, not just in fighting but in sports, and I want you to quote me on this, are these creepy weirdos who come from God knows where and leech onto fighters or athletes. They never do any good for them.
"Somehow, this creep got into Diego's life and has been controlling him. You saw the video of him chasing guys in the octagon with a knife. How f–king nuts is that? He goes to the commission and tells them that he's taught Diego this death touch. It goes on and on with this guy. He goes into the (fighter-broadcaster) production meeting and tells the commentators what they should be saying? The guy is batsh-t nuts. He worked his way into Diego's life and has gotten control over him. I just want the best for Diego."
Fabia has been a polarising figure in the UFC and has raised the ire of those in the MMA scene through his behaviour.
He once warned the Nevada State Athletic Commission that he and Sanchez had been working on a specific choke that could either kill or paralyse opponent Michael Chiesa prior to their welterweight bout at UFC 239. Sanchez was dominated and Chiesa won the fight via decision.
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This week Sanchez released a video of Fabia confronting UFC commentators over what he felt was disrespect toward Sanchez on a UFC broadcast. Last year, video emerged of Fabia using a knife during a training session with his fighters at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas.
Sanchez (30-13) won the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series, has 32 appearances in the UFC. He is a member of the UFC's Hall of Fame for his classic, split-decision win over Clay Guida in June 2009.
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