Laura Sanko possesses in-depth knowledge about the game from her fighting experience. Apart from holding a 4-1 amateur record, the Chicago native also boasts a victory in her lone pro-MMA fight to date under Invicta FC.
However, a former UFC champion expressed discontent with Sanko’s commentary at the recently concluded UFC Kansas City. Sanko took the commentary table as the color commentator for the night. The fighter criticized her for allegedly misusing a term in the context of the fight.
Laura Sanko Got Disparaged for Her Usage of ‘Stalling’
Laura Sanko entered the UFC in 2016 as a backstage reporter. It didn’t take long for her to gain prominence in the community. The following year, Sanko was elected for the same role in Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
Her noteworthy work as a backstage reporter soon led the UFC authorities to promote her to the role of official analyst and primary commentator for DWCS.
The combination of Sanko’s expertise in the sport and her fluency on the mic had the UFC head honcho, Dana White, promote her to the role of a color commentator in 2023. She debuted as a UFC color commentator on Feb. 4, 2023, at UFC Vegas 68.
Sanko has taken to the commentary table several times since then, with negligible criticism. However, the former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling wasn’t too pleased with her choice of words at UFC Kansas City.
In an X update, ‘Funk Master’ expressed his annoyance at Sanko for using the word “stalling” to describe taking the fight to the ground to be safe from strikes. Sterling posted the update during the main card encounter between Giga Chikadze and David Onama, where the latter resorted to this approach multiple times.
The tweet read, “Not liking Sanko’s use of the word ‘stalling’ tonight. What are these guys supposed to do when in a bad position?? Make it worse?? The guy in dominant position needs to advance unless it’s a 50-50 situation.”
Not liking Sankos use of the word “stalling” tonight. What are these guys supposed to do when in a bad position?? Make it worse?? The guy in dominant position needs to advance unless it’s a 5050 situation. #UFCKansasCity
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 27, 2025
Sanko hasn’t responded to Sterling’s criticism yet.
However, she previously gave a respectful reality check to former UFC lightweight Jamie Varner, who criticized her commentary skills during UFC Vegas 89.
Laura Sanko Hit Back at Jamie Varner
In a now-deleted X update, Jamie Varner claimed Laura Sanko did not qualify for the spot due to her lack of fighting experience.
He stated, “Leave the commentary to the people who have actually fought. A female UFC fighter should have that job. She is just annoying, and it’s obvious she is trying so hard and doesn’t know what she is talking about.”
In reply, Sanko welcomed Varner’s criticism of her commentary. But she reminded him about a previous instance in which they had fought under the same card. Sanko also highlighted how her “best friend” had braided his hair for his fight.
In other words, she gave Varner a reality check by helping him remember that she has fighting experience.
Sanko said, “It’s OK that you don’t like my commentary, but respectfully, I’ve been a part of this game and training since 2006. I’m a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu, and while I can’t compare my career to yours, I have in fact fought.”
Sanko went 4-1 as an amateur and won her sole professional MMA fight against Cassie Robb with a rear-naked choke at Invicta FC 4. She competed in the atomweight division. She has also been promoted to a BJJ black belt since this conversation.
