Hailing from Fittja, Sweden and training out of Hiliti BJJ, Diego Gonzalez is a top European MMA prospect currently competing in the welterweight division. Gonzalez has gained solid experience fighting on the European circuit and is Bodog Fight, Shooto Europe and M-1 Challenge veteran. Currently riding an eight fight win streak, Gonzalez has seen his stock steadily since he began his fighting career seven years ago at the age of seventeen. A solid ground fighter who displays good instincts on his feet, Gonzalez actually submitted UFC veteran Dan Hardy in a controversial bout in 2005 - but the fight was subsequently ruled a no-contest two months later (after it was deemed Gonzalez had hit Hardy too many times in the back of the head).

A grappler first and foremost, Gonzalez aggressively gets at his opponents looking to take the fight to the ground. Raised and trained in Europe, Gonzalez doesn't have the kind of collegiate or even high school wrestling background that many of his American counterparts do and because of that it's very hard to assess what level his overall wrestling and takedown abilities are at. However, in his early career he's rarely been unsuccessful in getting his opponent to the ground as he has shown excellent trips and takedowns - and has been particularly effective working from the clinch and when he has his opponents pressed up against the cage. Towards the beginning of his career Gonzalez would look almost immediately towards securing the takedown, but as his career's progressed and he's gained more confidence in his standup he has gotten better at setting up his shots. Once he has his opponent down, Gonzalez stays very tight to his opponents and displays excellent ground control, while at the same time staying active and having the ability to deliver a powerful ground and pound attack from inside his opponents guard (see bouts with Dan Hardy and Leslee Ojugbana). What's extremely impressive is that despite his active ground skills, Gonzalez remains very composed and does not get overly wild or sloppy. With his excellent ground control, smooth transitions and guard passing skills, and ability to deliver a tenacious ground and pound attack, Gonzalez displays promising potential with his very effective skills from top position. Holding a brown belt in BJJ, Gonzalez is no slouch when it comes to fighting off his back or looking to secure a submission - which is the route most of his victories have come by. Gonzalez possesses solid jiu jitsu skills, and a very slick, flexible guard game. He's dangerous fighting off his back and displays quick armbar and triangle attemps and effortlessly transitions between different submission attempts and sweeps. An intelligent grappler, Gonzalez is also clever enough to use his submission attempts to effectively sweep his opponents or improve positions.

Gonzalez shows good potential on his feet, where he exhibits good instincts and "natural striking ability". Anyone that watches him fight can see that he's quick and moves well, and throws punches and kicks smoothly - he just needs to continue refining his overall technique. An aggressive fighter, Gonzalez is usually the one pushing the action as he likes to come right at his opponents, looking to unload, working hard for takedowns and throwing lots of punches. Although he does get a little wild at times, the willingness is definitely there and he is not afraid to stand with his opponents. In more recent bouts Gonzalez has exhibited more restraint with his standup, and has become better at working his jab and picking his spots (see bouts with Dogan and Asrih) as his striking game has continued to mature. Gonzalez also shows good skills from in close with punches and elbows, and dangerous knees and good takedowns from the clinch. With continued work there's no reason to believe Gonzalez won't develop into a well rounded fighter with a sound standup game to compliment his skills on the ground.