Dec 2, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; The octagon is ready for UFC Fight Night at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports

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Laura Sanko Replaces Joe Rogan; Returns To Call The Action At UFC 321!

Dec 2, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; The octagon is ready for UFC Fight Night at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Rogan has been the voice of the UFC for over two decades now. His commentary has become as iconic as the fights themselves for millions of fans worldwide. But in recent years, Rogan has stopped traveling internationally for UFC events. The podcast king prefers staying home with his other projects rather than globe-trotting for fight cards overseas.

That creates opportunities for other talented broadcasters to step up and fill the void he leaves behind. UFC 321 takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 25, featuring a massive heavyweight title fight between Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane. And while fans won’t hear Rogan’s familiar voice calling the action, they will get someone exciting instead. A former fighter turned broadcaster is returning to the commentary booth for this stacked card.

Laura Sanko Makes History Again At UFC 321

Laura Sanko replaces Joe Rogan and returns to call the action at UFC 321 alongside Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik. This marks Sanko’s second numbered UFC event after she debuted at UFC 293. Her return to the pay-per-view commentary booth represents another significant milestone in her broadcasting career and for women in MMA media overall.

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Sanko made history as the first woman in modern UFC to work as a color commentator. She’s been calling events since 2021, bringing unique insights from her days as an Invicta fighter. Her fighting background (1-0) gives her perspective that enhances the broadcast in ways pure analysts sometimes can’t match. When she breaks down technique or strategy, it comes from real experience inside the cage.

The only other woman to work UFC commentary before Sanko was Kathy Long, who was part of the broadcast team way back at UFC 1. That historical gap makes Sanko’s current role even more impressive and important. She’s blazing trails for future generations of female broadcasters who want to cover combat sports at the highest level.

Why Did Joe Rogan Stopped Traveling Internationally?

Joe Rogan’s decision to skip international UFC events makes perfect sense when fans consider his current workload. Between hosting the world’s most popular podcasts, performing stand-up comedy nationwide, and managing various other projects, international travel became too much. The man is legitimately busy beyond just UFC commentary duties.

Reports suggest that Rogan simply reached a point where he valued being home more than traveling overseas constantly. At this stage of his life and career, domestic shows provide enough UFC involvement without the exhausting international flight schedules.

Fans will still hear Rogan’s voice and see him at domestic pay-per-view events throughout the year. He hasn’t abandoned UFC commentary completely; he’s just being selective about which cards he works. That selectivity creates space for talented broadcasters like Sanko to showcase their skills on the biggest stages.

(Image Credit: Dustin Safranek – Imagn Images)

Ciryl Gane

Daniel Cormier

Joe Rogan

Laura Sanko

Tom Aspinall

UFC 321

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!