UFC and Paramount+, a Skydance Corporation, have announced a significant long-term contract extension for veteran analyst and commentator Laura Sanko. Sanko will continue to be a key voice in UFC’s fight coverage, which is exclusively broadcast on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Latin America. She is set to serve as the desk analyst for the upcoming UFC 327 event in Miami, Florida.
Sanko’s journey with the UFC began in 2016 as a backstage reporter for Fox, and she later joined Dana White’s Contender Series in the same capacity in 2017. In 2021, she made history by becoming the first female color commentator in the modern UFC era during the inaugural season of DWCS. Her broadcasting career reached another milestone on February 4, 2023, when she made her UFC broadcast debut at UFC FIGHT NIGHT: LEWIS vs. SPIVAC. Moving forward, Sanko will continue to conduct fighter interviews, provide ringside reporting, and be a regular fixture on the morning weigh-in shows.
A respected figure in the sport, Sanko is a jiu-jitsu black belt and a former Invicta FC atomweight fighter with a professional record of 1-0 and an amateur record of 4-1. Her firsthand combat experience and sharp fight IQ enable her to offer insightful analysis, unique perspectives, and detailed breakdowns of the action to the audience.
“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 10 years, and it has been an extraordinary experience. I am especially grateful to the UFC for entrusting me with a role that was uncharted territory for a woman at the time. I have cherished every moment of analysis and storytelling this role has provided. From Dana White’s Contender Series to numbered events, from the analyst desk to the cage-side commentary, I am committed to delivering my best to the broadcasts and continuing to connect with both dedicated fans and the millions of new viewers Paramount+ is bringing to the sport. I am truly fortunate to work with the best team in the world, including my fellow broadcast partners, producers, and everyone behind the scenes, and I eagerly anticipate another fantastic chapter!”