'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 Diego Sanchez: Vampire Hunter
One of the most popular fighters in UFC history, part of the reason that Diego Sanchez has always drawn in so many fans is his total eccentricity. Whether we’re talking about his early UFC outings that saw him enter to a Mariachi band, to his Tony Robbins-inspired “yes!” chants, or his random association with attempting to use stevia to “purify” water, Diego’s always had a certain amount of craziness around him.
The ultimate example of this craziness, though, had to be prior to his 2012 fight with Jake Ellenberger. Sure, Diego’s walk-outs were always a bit crazy, but this fight saw his eccentricity hit another level entirely. As a piece of music inspired by Psalms 150 began to play, Diego came walking out holding a massive, oversized crucifix up in front of him, while ranting about lord only knows what.
Okay, so Diego had never made his belief in God and the Christian faith a secret, as he could be seen praying before his very early fights as far back as 2005. But quite why he would choose to show this by holding a giant crucifix – looking more like a vampire hunter than an MMA fighter – is anyone’s guess. Perhaps he somehow believed Ellenberger was a descendent of Count Dracula?
At any rate, the eccentric entrance, unfortunately, didn’t help him, as, despite a late rally that turned the fight into an instant classic, he lost a unanimous decision to ‘The Juggernaut’. The loss thankfully didn’t change Diego’s wacky personality – although he hasn’t brought out the giant crucifix for any of his subsequent fights.
