ESPN analyst Laura Sanko found herself at the center of a viral moment during Friday’s UFC weigh-in show when an innocent conversation about wrestling techniques took an unexpectedly personal turn.
The incident unfolded during a live broadcast featuring Sanko alongside Daniel Cormier, Chris Weidman, and RJ Clifford as they previewed Saturday’s UFC 320 event. The panel was discussing their “Top 3 Signature Moves in the UFC” when the conversation shifted to Khamzat Chimaev’s devastating takedown abilities.
RJ Clifford attempted to downplay the psychological impact of Chimaev’s signature move, casually remarking that “Khamzat’s double-leg [takedown] is amazing but you’re not, like, sitting up at night and thinking about it.”
This prompted an animated response from former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, who fired back: “Of course you are! How are you not staying up at night, thinking about laying on your back for 25 minutes?!”
It was at this moment that Sanko delivered the comment that would soon light up social media. Without missing a beat, she chimed in: “I’ve been on my back for 25 minutes, it’s not that bad” before immediately bursting into laughter and covering her face.
The reaction from her co-hosts was immediate and priceless. Cormier, clearly surprised by what he had just heard, exclaimed: “Laura! That’s some crazy s***! Did y’all hear that? Oh my god!”
Not to be outdone, Clifford seized the moment to playfully escalate the situation, jokingly adding: “You’d think Mr. Sanko would change it up. 25 minutes and you’re okay with that?”
The comment quickly spread across social media platforms, with clips of the exchange garnering thousands of views and shares.
The 42-year-old began her career as a professional fighter, making her debut in 2013 at Invicta FC 4 where she secured a submission victory in the second round. However, she stepped away from active competition shortly after for family reasons.
Rather than leaving the sport entirely, Sanko found a new path as an interviewer and analyst. Her expertise and engaging personality eventually led to a groundbreaking achievement in 2021 when she became the first female commentator to work in the modern era of the UFC. She continued to break barriers by making her pay-per-view debut in September 2023 at UFC 293 in Sydney.
Beyond her broadcasting career, Sanko recently achieved another significant milestone, earning her black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after a dedicated 19-year journey.
Sanko is set to return to her analyst duties for Saturday night’s highly anticipated UFC 320 card. The event features compelling matchups including Alex Pereira seeking redemption against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event, while bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against American contender Cory Sandhagen.
