Leaving Megan Olivi Behind, Laura Sanko Becomes First Female UFC Commentator

Laura Sanko makes history ahead of female broadcasters like Megan Olivi to become the first-ever female UFC commentator.

UFC Vegas 68 will see two heavyweights going at it in the main event. It will mark the return of Derrick Lewis, who is perhaps one of the best to ever fight in the division. He will take on Sergey Spivak, who occupies the 12th rank in the heavyweight division. However, the event will be a historic one for a completely different reason. It will be the first UFC event to have a female commentator in the booth. Laura Sanko will be the one to make the historic step.

However, this is not the first time Laura has been in a commentary booth for the UFC. She has been a part of the commentary team for Dana White’s Contender Series on a regular basis. But that is not considered a part of the main roster as the contestants fight in the program to earn a UFC contract. Hence, this will be the first time when a female commentator narrates the action inside the Octagon for a big-time UFC event.

Laura Sanko will become the first female commentator in modern UFC history as she makes her debut in the booth at #UFCVegas68 this Saturday.#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/mZnWqeyHOM

— Women's MMA Rankings (@WMMARankings) January 30, 2023

Laura Sanko is a former MMA fighter with a pro record of 1-0. Her only fight came in 2013 when she defeated Cassie Robb via rear-naked choke submission at Invicta FC 4. Prior to that, Sanko had an amateur record of 4-1. However, her broadcasting career is much more prominent than her fighting career. Now she is the first UFC female commentator in history. So she has etched her name in history forever.

Laura Sanko reacts to becoming the first female UFC commentator

Laura Sanko has been broadcasting for Invicta since 2014. Her presence on the screen certainly lights up every frame that she is in. Fans, who have regularly tuned in to watch DWCS, know that Sanko is an amazing analyst and she will bring a different look to the sport. So what is her reaction to the amazing news? Sanko shared her gratefulness in an interview with the UFC.

“Taking the next step to join the UFC commentary team has been a goal of mine since I began my broadcast career, It is an honor to walk in the footprint of Kathy Long 30 years after her appearance on UFC 1. I consider it a true privilege to be part of the team that is a voice to our incredible fans, communicating the fighting art of each man and woman who steps inside the UFC Octagon,” said Laura.

Thank you very much for all the support 🙏🏻 You guys are amazing. And thank you @ufc for this incredible opportunity. I’m truly honored.

— Laura Sanko (@laura_sanko) January 30, 2023

UFC President Dana White gave his two cents on the news. He said, “I can’t think of anyone better to be the first female color commentator for the modern UFC era than Laura, she has worked incredibly hard to prove herself and get to this position and I couldn’t be prouder to have her calling the action.”

Sanko recently was dragged into some controversy due to her involvement with James Krause. Former UFC title contender Megan Anderson accused Sanko of cheating on her husband with Krause. However, it seems like Sanko has moved on from all the controversies and is on her path to building a much brighter legacy in the company.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Laura Sanko (@laura_sanko)

So where can fans catch her commentary debut in the UFC? The event goes down on February 4 and fans can watch the event live on UFC Fight Pass and on ESPN+. The event will take place inside the Apex facility in Las Vegas.