MMA News

Tag: laura sanko

  • UFC 321 Commentary Team: Who’s Replacing Joe Rogan In The Broadcast Booth In Abu Dhabi?

    UFC 321 Commentary Team: Who’s Replacing Joe Rogan In The Broadcast Booth In Abu Dhabi?

    UFC 321 is set to electrify the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE tonight (Saturday, October 25), with a stacked card of fights.

    UFC’s 11th pay-per-view of 2025 features a thrilling championship doubleheader. In the main event, heavyweight king Tom Aspinall defends his undisputed title for the first time against former interim champion Ciryl Gane.

    Meanwhile, in the co-main event, top strawweight contenders Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern collide for the vacant 115-pound UFC title. The UFC 321 main card also features a pivotal bantamweight showdown as former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov goes head-to-head with Mario Bautista.

    UFC 321 Commentary & Broadcast Team

    UFC 321 viewers won’t catch the familiar voice of veteran commentator Joe Rogan, who, as always, does not travel for international events and will be absent from the broadcast in Abu Dhabi.

    Joe Rogan will be missing from UFC 321 commentary team
    Image: UFC/YouTube

    Stepping into the booth, former MMA fighter turned analyst Laura Sanko makes her second PPV appearance, providing expert color commentary alongside the dynamic duo of play-by-play announcer Jon Anik and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier.

    As usual, legendary Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer returns, electrifying the crowd with his signature energy and iconic flair as he hypes up every fighter before each matchup.

    Behind the scenes at UFC 321, commentator John Gooden will bring fans closer to the action, conducting pre- and post-fight interviews with fighters and delivering live updates throughout the night.

    UFC veterans Anthony Smith, Chael Sonnen, and Paul Felder will complete the broadcast team, offering expert analysis from the desk during the event and on the post-fight show, hosted by Brendan Fitzgerald.

    Image: @ufc/X
  • Dakota Ditcheva: Laura Sanko Says the UFC Needs “Violent Cinderella”

    Dakota Ditcheva: Laura Sanko Says the UFC Needs “Violent Cinderella”

    UFC commentator Laura Sanko wants to see Dakota Ditcheva join the promotion sooner rather than later.

    As we know, Dakota Ditcheva is one of the biggest stars in women’s mixed martial arts today. That’s saying something, too, given that she has yet to step foot into the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s octagon.

    Instead, Dakota Ditcheva has been making a name for herself in the PFL. It’s all been smooth sailing so far and as we look ahead to the future, it certainly seems as if she’s gearing up to become the new face of the promotion – if she isn’t already.

    In a recent video, the aforementioned Laura Sanko made it known that she’s very interested in seeing Dakota Ditcheva make the switch over to the UFC.

    Laura Sanko wants Dakota Ditcheva in UFC

    “For me, it’s Dakota Ditcheva. What a fighter. Talk about a women’s division needing a superstar… She is a violent Cinderella. Bring her to the UFC as soon as you possibly can.”

    Ditcheva is set to turn 27 years of age tomorrow and you’d think that she would be interested in making her way over to the UFC at this point in her career. Alas, perhaps she wants the best deal possible, and would rather make as much money and build as much hype as she can with the PFL before the jump.

    Either way, Dakota has the potential to do some incredible things in the sport, and it’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out (sorry Dana).

  • ‘Lmfao! Well Played’ – Fans React After UFC Veteran Recreates Conor McGregor’s NSFW Leak With Message To Laura Sanko

    ‘Lmfao! Well Played’ – Fans React After UFC Veteran Recreates Conor McGregor’s NSFW Leak With Message To Laura Sanko

    Conor McGregor is often credited with setting trends in the MMA world, though a recent move by a female UFC veteran likely wasn’t the kind of influence anyone expected.

    By now, it’s no secret that McGregor has a knack for landing himself in controversy, and his 36th birthday was no exception. Just as headlines picked up steam over footage of “The Notorious” kissing an unidentified woman on a Florida beach, things took a sharper turn.

    American rapper Azealia Banks took to X to blast McGregor, sharing a series of explicit images he allegedly sent her in direct messages. She followed up with a scathing tirade aimed at the former two-division UFC champion’s ambitions to run for president of Ireland.

    UFC strawweight veteran Angela Hill recently put a comedic twist on Conor McGregor’s NSFW controversy involving Azealia Banks. Turning to X, “Overkill” shared a tongue-in-cheek screenshot of a direct message she sent to UFC broadcaster Laura Sanko — featuring an image of herself holding a kettlebell between her legs, accompanied by a message that read, “Lifting weights.” The post was a playful parody of the now-viral images Banks claimed McGregor sent her.

    Fans React to Angela Hill’s Hilarious Take on Conor McGregor’s Viral DM Scandal

    Angela Hill’s playful parody of the explicit exchange between Azealia Banks and Conor McGregor quickly drew a wave of fan reactions, with many applauding “Overkill” for her clever humor and spot-on execution.

    https://twitter.com/eliseblago/status/1944856339160994151
    https://twitter.com/Mike_bootstraps/status/1944846235531403523

    Hill is set to face Iasmin Lucindo in a strawweight bout at UFC Vegas 109, scheduled for Aug. 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Overkill” was last seen in action this past February, where she edged out Ketlen Souza via split decision to snap her losing skid and return to the win column. She currently holds a 13–14 record in the UFC.

  • UFC Commentator Questions If Valentina Shevchenko’s Age Will Play A Factor At Noche UFC 306

    UFC Commentator Questions If Valentina Shevchenko’s Age Will Play A Factor At Noche UFC 306

    Laura Sanko recently pondered whether Valentina Shevchenko’s age might emerge as a crucial variable in her upcoming title fight against Alexa Grasso at Noche UFC 306.

    Shevchenko is set to challenge reigning UFC flyweight champion Grasso in a highly anticipated trilogy bout, serving as the co-main event of this Saturday’s pay-per-view spectacle at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “Bullet” kicked off her dominant reign as the UFC’s 125-pound champion with a decisive unanimous decision win over Hall of Famer Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231 in December 2018, setting the stage for an unstoppable title run. Shevchenko went on to defend her title an impressive seven times, cementing her legacy. However, her historic run hit a roadblock at UFC 285 in March 2023 when she was stunned by Grasso, succumbing to a shocking fourth-round submission.

    The two faced off once again in the main event of the inaugural Noche UFC last September. The result, still a hot topic of debate, ended in a polarizing split draw, with Grasso retaining her title. Despite the stalemate, Shevchenko appeared overwhelmed by the Mexican champion in parts, who got the better of most of the striking exchanges.

    Even before her loss to Grasso, Shevchenko, who turned 36 this March, showed signs of vulnerability during her title defense against Taila Santos at UFC 275 in June 2022. However, the Kyrgyz-born Peruvian narrowly avoided an upset, escaping with a razor-thin split-decision victory.

    All of this has sparked Sanko to question whether “Bullet’s” age might prove to be a deciding factor in the trilogy bout against Grasso…

    Sanko Wonders If Shevchenko’s Best Days Are Behind Her

    During a recent episode of One On One | MMA with Din Thomas, Sanko dove into a discussion about the upcoming Grasso vs. Shevchenko showdown. The UFC’s first female commentator posed an intriguing question to Thomas, asking whether the former flyweight queen could still maintain her razor-sharp edge at 36 or if time has begun to dull her once-dominant prowess.

    “Can you make that adjustment at 36?” Sanko asked. “I can say that as a mature woman of nearly 42. 36 is, you know, it’s not old, but it’s the beginning of what we call old in MMA. It’s the beginning of that if we’re being honest. So, I guess my question to you is: Can she make those adjustments at this stage in her career?”

    Thomas responded by acknowledging that while he’s not ruling out Shevchenko’s chances against Grasso, he believes 36 is the age when fighters often begin to struggle with the psychological demands of the sport, which could impact their performance.

    “The hard part is, physically, I think you could make them, but at 36, what I’m talking about is more psychological. At 36, you’re just in a different place psychologically, and you’re thinking about vacation and bills and what you’re going to do after the fight. Now, that may not be what we admit to, but that’s just what happens. We don’t like to admit that, but you just don’t want to slap a person in the face anymore after 36. It just… I don’t know if she can make those adjustments, but I’m not gonna count her out.”

    Prior to her defeat against Grasso, Shevchenko hadn’t lost to anyone in the UFC aside from Amanda Nunes. However, history has shown that many fighters over the age of 35 tend to exhibit signs of decline in their performances. This makes it all the more interesting to see how Shevchenko will rise to the challenge against Grasso, who is not only four years younger but brimming with momentum.

  • UFC Commentator Feels The Delayed Start Time Of UFC 304 Will Not Affect Fighters Or Fans

    UFC Commentator Feels The Delayed Start Time Of UFC 304 Will Not Affect Fighters Or Fans

    UFC commentator Laura Sanko recently assured that the postponed start time for UFC 304 would have minimal impact on both the fighters and the fans in the United Kingdom.

    The eighth numbered UFC pay-per-view event of 2024 is just around the corner, set to unfold this Saturday at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester. The card will feature two headline title fights, both of which are eagerly anticipated rematches.

    In the main event, UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards will defend his title against Belal Muhammad. Meanwhile, the co-main event will see interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall clash with Curtis Blaydes.

    Since the announcement of the UFC 304 schedule, a storm of controversy and fan uproar has erupted over the decision to start the fight card at typical United States times, even though the event is taking place in the United Kingdom.

    The event broadcast is set to begin at 11 PM BST on Saturday, July 27. Consequently, the headlining fighters are expected to make their Octagon walkouts between 5:00 and 5:15 AM the following morning. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the fight card will kick off at approximately 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT on Saturday afternoon, with the main card slated to start around 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT.

    However, UFC’s first female color commentator believes that the late-night and early-morning schedule will neither hinder the fighters nor deter the viewers…

    Sanko Believes UFC 304 Excitement Will Keep Fans Hooked

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Sanko, who will be fulfilling her role as a desk analyst for UFC 304, offered her insights on the pay-per-view broadcast schedule. She acknowledged that while the schedule is less than ideal for the fans, it ultimately won’t matter much on fight night, given the high anticipation surrounding the card.

    “It’s unfortunate for the fans, but I think when that day comes, it’s not gonna matter for the fans or for the athletes,” Sanko said. “I think the energy is going to be so off-the-charts it’s not going to matter if you’re a fan and trust me; you’re going to be able to soldier through because the action from these fights is going to be enough to keep you going, hopefully.”

    The UFC broadcaster further noted that the last PPV event in Manchester, UFC 204 in October 2016, also followed a similar schedule. She emphasized that the real challenge for fighters lies in preparing for the late-night bouts rather than the timing of the event itself.

    “Here’s my one tip: just don’t start drinking too early. That’s going to be the downfall of at least a certain proportion of this fan base. But I think for the fighters, you know, Leon Edwards actually had this exact same situation when he fought on Michael Bisping’s card, where he had his huge win over Dan Henderson in Manchester. So he’s familiar with it, and he said the same thing.

    He said, ‘Listen, it didn’t matter. The moment I walked out to that arena, it could have been 2 o’clock in the afternoon, it could have been 2 o’clock in the morning, I wouldn’t have known the difference. I was headed into a fight.’ So I think it sucks probably more in the lead-up, the preparation, stressing about it, stressing about how it might affect you. But I think when the time comes, these guys are just going to do their job.”

    Both Aspinall and Blaydes have voiced their grievances about the absurd fight timings, but the MMA promotion remains steadfast in its decision. Meanwhile, “Rocky” has reportedly gone so far as to hire a sleep specialist to help him adjust to the unconventional schedule.

  • MMA News Today: UFC Lightweights Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler, McGregor Involved In Social Media Throwdown, UFC Commentator Feels Michael ‘Venom’ Page Displayed ‘Lack Of Depth’ In Loss To Ian Garry, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 2, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler & McGregor all trade shots
    • Sanko says “MVP” needs the right dance partner
    • Cejudo still has Pereira grappling concerns

    Top UFC Lightweights Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler & McGregor Engage In Social Media Crossfire

    Some of the top names in the UFC’s lightweight division have been exchanging blows on social media with Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler all letting their feelings about one another be known.

    The conversation was sparked by a post from Poirier where he said if Arman Tsarukyan is unable to fight for the lightweight title, he would be happy to jump back in with Makhachev following their fight at UFC 302.

    “The Diamond” had also been firing back at Conor McGregor in response to the recent social media posts that were made by “The Notorious” in reference to their previous encounters.

    Makhachev replied to Poirier’s message, as did fellow top lightweight Chandler who then also went back-and-forth with the lightweight champion due to their history inside the Octagon.

    The full series of crossfire posts shows that there is no love lost between any of the four lightweights.

    Laura Sanko Says Michael ‘Venom’ Page Needs The Right Match-Up After UFC 303 Defeat

    Michael “Venom” Page was defeated by Ian Garry at UFC 303 after the Irishman used his grappling to secure the victory.

    Whilst Page had some strong moments on the feet, he was taken down and out-grappled by one of the welterweight contenders who isn’t known for this particular skill set.

    UFC commentator Laura Sanko spoke in an interview with Submission Radio about how this fight showed some of the flaws in Page’s game.

    She said that whilst there are still plenty of options for “MVP” in the UFC, it needs to be against the right opponent after what we saw this past weekend.

    “Yeah, he definitely showed a little bit of lack of depth in terms of the details of the ground game and I think anybody that really appreciates the fine art of jiu-jitsu is going to spot those.

    “There are still plenty of really interesting, fun fights for MVP on the UFC roster. The truth of the matter is he needs the right stylistic match-up.”

    Henry Cejudo Says The Jury Is Still Out On Alex Pereira And His Grappling

    Former UFC champ-champ Henry Cejudo isn’t ready to start calling Alex Pereira the best in the world right now due to one concern.

    “Triple C” spoke on his Pound 4 Pound podcast about how “Poatan” is still yet to face an elite grappler that will be able to take him out of his comfort zone.

    Despite being able to deal with other strikers in emphatic fashion, as he did in the main event of UFC 303, a huge test awaits him in Magomed Ankalaev.

    Cejudo also referred to the fact that Pereira is yet to mention a potential super fight with the heavyweight champion Jon Jones because of the wrestling pedigree that “Bones” brings to the table.

    “Either way, Alex Pereira, he’s not mentioning Jon Jones because I think he knows that Jon Jones has that special sauce, and it’s called wrestling. But that being said, I want to see the fight with Ankalaev.”

    Read more on the story here.

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