Diego Sanchez’s decision to stick with his coach, Joshua Fabia, has drawn a lot of scepticism. When the former Jackson Wink stand-out left the gym, not many believed he was getting an upgrade by going to Fabia. This time around it is welterweight James Krause who has spoken up against Diego’s “Healer/Self-Awareness Expert” coach.
“Just some of that stuff, that guy says is ridiculous to me. I just can’t seem to get behind it, and I think he’s got Diego manipulated, and I think – I’m not a fan of the man”, Diego said to MMA Junkie. Fabia initially came under criticism for his strange corner advice during Diego Sanchez vs Michel Pereira. UFC commentator and long time coach Trevor Wittman found the advice extremely strange. Daniel Cormier also voiced the same issue.
Krause, however, did give Fabia his due share of the credit, acknowledging his presence around the sport for years. However, he is not sure whether Fabia is a coach or a motivator.
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James Krause thinks Fabia is holding Diego Sanchez back
“There’s a difference between a motivator and a coach,” Krause said. “If you need the motivation to fight at this level, you’re probably not in the right place. At the end of the day, it takes more than motivation to win at this level, and I just think he’s a master manipulator. And he’s got somebody like Diego, who’s got some real skills, and I think he’s holding him back because of it”
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Fabia is the coach and founder of the School of Self-Awareness. A 16-year-old veteran of the game, Sanchez went to him when he felt that he was unable to grow as an MMA fighter at Jackson Wink.
James Krause started the criticism of the coach in response to a question regarding whom he wants to fight next. He said that he can either fight a “legend” like Diego Sanchez or Carlos Condit. Or, he could wait for a top 15 guy at the 170 pounds weight class. However, with his dig at Sanchez’s coach, Krause has indirectly expressed his interest in wanting to fight the American at his next match.
