On Wednesday afternoon, on the latest episode of the JRE MMA show, perennial UFC lightweight and welterweight contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone buried his long-time team, Jackson-Wink MMA. Cerrone unleashed particularly incendiary comments about coach Mike Winkeljohn, and wrestling coach Chad Smith. One of the first people to jump to the aid of coaches Winkeljohn and Smith was UFC welterweight veteran and Jackson-Wink staple Diego Sanchez.
In his first statement on the issue, which was released Wednesday night, Diego Sanchez defended the gym and assured that he would happily fight his former teammate “Cowboy” if Mike Perry doesn’t make it to their November 10 fight in Denver.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnFRiM0nSgg/
“@joerogan @jacksonwink_mma is on fire we’re on the ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ up’s bro no lie I have been here longer than anyone and seen the many stages of our evolution of this team!!! We’re stronger than ever our defeats only helped us to grow and we are coming into the prosperous stage just 👀 and see!!! @cowboycerrone had been so busy building his empire the past three four years and he’s done a fantastic job doing it but that’s been his focus he’s never been here!!! Maybe a grappling class here or there a sparring every 6 months??? That’s not a team mate it’s just someone who is out only for themselves. I’d try to give him a round if we crossed paths here or there the last time he got me real good with a side kick to the liver 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼…. I see it all!! I treat this like a job 9-5 I come everyday I stay when everyone leaves to rest and eat.. so I see it all!! and in the past ten years cowboy never went out of his way to help me get ready for a fight not ounce! That’s why I posted previous about why I was #teamplatinum @platinummikeperry is here to give me rounds if I need them and helped me more in one camp than cowboy did in ten years🤔… don’t bad mouth my gym or my coach @mmacoachwink we’re good peeps striving to better our city our state and our sport!!!! If Perry falls out come November ILL BE READY TO FILL IN WITH ZERO HESITATION! And we know where @gregjacksonmma will be #loyalty #itsnotallaboutmoney #realtalk #STILLTHEBESTGYM”- Diego Sanchez on Instagram.
Since then, Sanchez has issued a followup statement on the issue, defending coach Smith and assuring that Cowboy is no longer his friend.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnGmuqpHOt9/
“What if he was talking about your brother your wrestling coach? How would you respond? BTW this is all BS and my coach @chadinspiremma is so legit that’s why I chose him to corner me and be one of leaded into a battle where my life is on the line!!!! @cowboycerrone your not my homie anymore! And if someone was trashing @superdwrestling publicly like this you wouldn’t have it @bmfranch @jacksonwink_mma.” – Diego Sanchez on Instagram.
What do you make of the growing rift between Donald Cerrone and Jackson-Wink fighters like Diego Sanchez.
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 8/30/2018.