Laura Sanko is set to become the first woman since Kathy Long in 1993 to be part of the commentary team for a UFC pay-per-view event, joining Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier for UFC 293 in Sydney, a surprise opportunity that she learned about a few months prior.
Laura Sanko revealed that she was aware of her first chance to commentate a UFC pay-per-view a few months before Saturday’s game in Australia, yet she was taken aback by its abruptness. She expressed her surprise that this remarkable occasion, although expected, still seemed to have appeared absolutely out of the blue.
For the Saturday event in Sydney, Sanko is set to team up with Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier in providing commentary for UFC 293. This appointment makes her the first woman since Kathy Long in November 1993 to join the commentary team for a pay-per-view event, specifically UFC 1. This historical parallel is an indication of the ground-breaking role Sanko is poised to play with this new assignment.
Sanko sat down prior to UFC 293 with Mike Heck to share her reaction about being selected as a member of the Saturday broadcast team. She touched upon a range of topics including public reactions on social media, the hype in Sydney, the upcoming middleweight championship bout between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, potential outcomes if Strickland secures an upset, the UFC 293 press conference, her bond with Kathy Long, as well as her appreciation for Jon Anik as a commentator. Her enthusiasm is evident as she looks forward to contributing her unique perspective and analysis to the commentary team.