Laura Sanko is an MMA trailblazer now 30 years in the making by Zain Bando
The year 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the UFC and the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in the United States. It’s only fitting that Laura Sanko would finally get her big moment to shine during such a critical 12-month period in company history. For some context, Kathy Long commentated on UFC 1, but that was the last time a female broadcaster would be cage-side at UFC events, as Kerri Kasem, Kendra (Perez) Swanson, Megan Olivi, and Karyn Bryant all hosted or moderated UFC-related programs in an analytical role.
Sanko joined the UFC in 2017 as part of Dana White’s Contender Series after stints in the LFA and Invicta as a color commentator. She thrived in that role, interviewing big names like Sean O’Malley, Phil Hawes, and Jamie Pickett, to name a few.
Sanko also became a fixture on pre and post-fight UFC programming, thoroughly breaking down cards and giving her analysis as an ex-MMA fighter herself. Her contributions to the sport are far more significant than Long’s, as the Kansas City native has received high praise from UFC president Dana White.
White, who has been company president since Feb. 2001, has seen the growth and evolution of modern-day MMA, as Sanko’s presence on color commentary represents how far the sport has come, he said.
“This was her destiny. She has been an absolute savage since the day she walked in here, pushing for this hard,” White said following UFC Vegas 68 Saturday night. “Tonight was her big night, she delivered. I had tons of people texting me talking about what a great job she did tonight, and I'm happy for her."
Sanko also felt the love and support from UFC fans worldwide, as she spoke to assembled media after it was announced that she would call Derrick Lewis vs. Sergey Spivak from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV, despite the abnormal start time stateside. The event was initially scheduled for South Korea, but the promotion's hands were tied due to the main event falling through.
“Being elevated to this new UFC Fight Night role is exciting for many reasons,” Sanko told Awful Announcing. “Like most people in business, I set short-term and long-term goals. And being able to serve as the color commentator for a UFC card felt so distant when I started. But with each step in my career, I realized it was obtainable. So there is something very surreal about achieving a goal and a reset that comes with adjusting your mindset from this goal to now being a reality. I can point to hard work and know passion and skillset pay off. And that can help me as I create new goals for myself, both in the short and long term. ”
It’s safe to assume that this won’t be the last time that Sanko will sit Octagonside for a major UFC event, as her career continues to grow nearly every week that a fight card takes place.