Laura Sanko Secures Extended Contract with UFC

Paramount and the UFC have officially announced a significant long-term contract extension with their respected analyst and commentator, Laura Sanko. Sanko is set to continue her comprehensive fight coverage on Paramount+, the primary platform for UFC content in the United States and Latin America. Her role will include serving as the desk analyst for the highly anticipated UFC 327 event in Miami, Florida, this coming weekend.

Sanko's journey with the UFC began in 2016 as a backstage reporter for Fox. She then joined the inaugural season of Dana White's Contender Series in a similar capacity in 2017. Sanko made history in 2021 by becoming the first female color commentator in the modern UFC era during that year's DWCS season. Her broadcasting career reached another milestone two years later with her debut on a UFC broadcast at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivac on February 4, 2023. Moving forward, Sanko will maintain her responsibilities in conducting fighter interviews, providing cage-side reporting, and being a regular fixture on the morning weigh-in shows.

As a jiu-jitsu black belt and a former atomweight fighter for Invicta FC, holding a professional record of 1-0 and an amateur record of 4-1, Sanko brings invaluable firsthand combat experience and a sharp fight IQ to her analysis. Her insights, unique fight breakdowns, and detailed observations of the action are a key contribution to the broadcasts.

"It is an incredible honor to continue my journey with the UFC as a color commentator and analyst," Sanko stated. "By 2026, I will have been on-air with the UFC for a decade, and it has been an extraordinary experience. I am particularly grateful to the UFC for providing me with the opportunity to step into a role that was, at the time, uncharted territory for a woman. I have cherished every moment of the analysis and storytelling this role has allowed me. From Dana White's Contender Series to major numbered events, from the analyst desk to cage-side commentary, I am eager to deliver my best to the broadcasts and continue connecting with both the dedicated hardcore fans and the millions of new fans that Paramount+ is attracting to the sport. Working alongside my broadcast colleagues, our producers, and the entire behind-the-scenes team, we truly have the finest team in the world, and I am excited for what the next amazing chapter holds!"