When Isaac ‘The Shermanator’ Marquez walked into Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the 32-year-old UFC megafan formed a special bond with veteran fighter Diego Sanchez.
Marquez, who has down syndrome, visited Jackson Wink MMA to watch the pros but soon found himself training alongside the pros with none other than Sanchez.
Sanchez, who was the middleweight tournament winner of the first Ultimate Fighter series in 2005, offered The Shermanator a title fight at the Isleta Casino and Resort in Albuquerque.
“Most down syndrome adults don’t live past 45,” Sanchez told KRQE before the bout.