ESPN analyst Laura Sanko left her co-hosts in shock after making a comment about her love life during their live broadcast on Friday.
‘Queen of MMA’ Sanko was joined on the UFC weigh-in show by Daniel Cormier, Chris Weidman and RJ Clifford as they previewed Saturday’s UFC 320 event.
During which, one segment saw each analyst list their ‘Top 3 Signature Moves in the UFC’ – where Clifford downplayed the effect of Khamzat Chimaev’s takedowns.
‘Khamzat’s double-leg [takedown] is amazing but you’re not, like, sitting up at night and thinking about it’, Clifford said.
A frustrated Cormier fired back: ‘Of course you are! How are you not staying up at night, thinking about laying on your back for 25 minutes?!’
Then, Sanko cheekily chimed in: ‘I’ve been on my back for 25 minutes, it’s not that bad’ before bursting into laughter and covering her face.
ESPN host Laura Sanko left Daniel Cormier in shock after making a raunchy remark on-air
When discussing wrestling, Sanko said: ‘I’ve been on my back for 25 minutes, it’s not that bad’
Her co-hosts were stunned, with Cormier saying: ‘Laura! That’s some crazy s***’! Did y’all hear that? Oh my god’.
Clifford then, jokingly, said: ‘You’d think Mr. Sanko would change it up. 25 minutes and you’re okay with that?’
Sanko seemed as though she was about to describe her husband further – before cutting herself off and, again, bursting into laughter.
Prior to her analyst role, Sanko has been a professional fighter and debuted in 2013 at Invicta FC 4 against Cassie Rob – winning via submission in the second round.
However, she stopped fighting shortly afterwards for family reasons, before later returning to the scene to interview fighters.
Sanko became the first female commentator to work in the modern era of UFC in 2021, and made her PPV debut in September 2023 at UFC 293 in Sydney.
Earlier this year, the 42-year-old wowed her Instagram followers with a 4th of July bikini snap, drawing in 20,000 likes – and plenty of comments.
She also recently became a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, proving she’s plenty more than just a pretty face.
MMA analyst Sanko pictured alongside husband and entrepreneur Nathan Sanko back in 2022
Sanko, a former MMA professional, has been a part of UFC broadcasts since 2016
She recently revealed she has become a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after 19 years
In a post on her social media accounts, she revealed it was the culmination of a 19-year journey to the top, and she remains in incredible shape more than 10 years after stepping out of the professional game.
Sanko will return to her analysis duties on Saturday night for the highly-anticipated UFC 320 card featuring the likes of Alex Pereira and Merab Dvalishvili.
Pereira will be looking for redemption when he takes on Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of the evening – after being dethroned as light heavyweight champion.
Merab, meanwhile, will be defending his bantamweight title against US star Cory Sandhagen.
