Laura Sanko Making History at UFC 293

“To have a small part in opening doors for women, it means everything”

Laura Sanko is ready to make history.

“I keep thinking, ‘Act like you’ve been here before,’ but I haven’t been here until now,” said Sanko. “So I’m going to be absolutely excited.”

At UFC 293, Sanko will become the first woman in the Zuffa era of the company, which started in 2001, to serve as a color commentator on a pay-per-view. The only other time that happened was when Kathy Long was part of the call at UFC 1, which took place in 1993. Since then, 30 years of action in the Octagon have passed, yet no woman ever added her perspective on commentary during the pay-per-views.

“This was a goal that felt too far to really set in my sights,” said Sanko, who hopes her work will open more avenues for women in the sport. “I just debuted on the Fight Nights in February, and being part of a pay-per-view is something I wanted to do eventually–but eventually, that felt really far off.”

Five years ago, Sanko informed UFC President Dana White that she intended to be the first female color commentator in the history of the UFC. Yet Sanko’s rise cannot be attributed to her prescience. Her success is the direct result of passion, knowledge, and an unrelenting work ethic.

“I’m a woman in a male-dominated space, so I’ve earned respect by outworking everyone to the best of my extent,” said Sanko. “To have a small part in opening doors for women, it means everything. For as many times as I was told no, I knew I could do this. The message at the end of the day is don’t give up.”

Sanko will join the iconic crew of Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier, as well as intrepid reporter Megan Olivi, who is never too far from the action. Connecting from his hotel room in Sydney, Australia, which is the host city for UFC 293, Anik shared his excitement on calling the fights beside Sanko.

“I am really excited to get the chance to work with Laura on a pay-per-view,” said Anik. “I believe she is already one of our finer grappling analysts, and she has absolutely earned this opportunity. She’s a huge asset to MMA and as her friend and colleague, I’m proud of her effort to realize this dream.”

Sanko competed in her first amateur fight in 2009, and she has been covering the sport since 2010. Since the beginning, she refused to ask to be taken seriously as an analyst; rather, her work commanded that respect. Sanko comes thoroughly prepared, a skill complemented by her ability to break down what is happening in the cage.

“I’m not nervous about my ability to call fights,” said Sanko. “I know what I can do, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t keenly aware of the responsibility I have for other women.”

The timing is opportune for Sanko, as the main event in Sydney features middleweight king Israel Adesanya seeking to extend his reign against Sean Strickland. There are other compelling bouts, including a heavyweight tussle between Tai Tuivasa and Alexander Volkov, that will help make the card memorable.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Sanko. “And I couldn’t ask for a better crew. When I closed my eyes and visualized this, it was always Jon and DC next to me. This is something I’ve always wanted, and it’s something I’ve worked for.

“You only get one shot to make a first impression, and I feel like I’m making a first impression for women in this role. That’s the part that is a big responsibility, and it’s one I’m honored to have.”