Laura Sanko may have a stunning appearance and a captivating smile, but don’t be deceived into thinking she’s all about looks. Sanko is a skilled fighter and a fierce competitor who embarked on her professional MMA journey in 2013. Her debut match against Casey Robb concluded with Laura emerging victorious. However, after a brief career, she decided to explore the media side of the sports world. Currently working for ESPN, Laura has plans to further her career in media. Her journey demonstrates that it’s never too late to switch gears and pursue your true passions in life. Read on to uncover 10 intriguing facts about Laura Sanko.
1. A Business Degree Holder
Education has always been a top priority for Laura. According to her LinkedIn profile, she attended William Jewell College in Missouri, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and entrepreneurial studies in 2005.
2. A Dedicated Mother
Laura has achieved many accomplishments throughout her life, but none compare to the joy of becoming a mother. She and her husband, Nathan, have an adorable son together. Upon discovering her pregnancy, Laura decided to retire from her professional fighting career.
3. Entrepreneurial Spirit
While many struggle to find jobs in their field after college, Laura has been putting her degree to good use. In 2012, she founded Grassy Pants Beef, LLC. According to Distractify, the company sells grass-fed and hormone-free steaks. Unfortunately, we couldn’t locate a website or social media pages for the company.
4. Raised in a Conservative Household
Laura is a Midwestern girl, raised in Kansas within a fairly conservative family that placed significant emphasis on religion. As you can imagine, a career in fighting isn’t what most conservative parents envision for their daughters. Fortunately for Laura, she was already in her mid-20s when she decided to pursue fighting, leaving her parents with little say in the matter. She stated, “I got into MMA because I was going through a tough time in my personal life and needed a way to distract myself from the stress.”
5. Collaborating with Various Brands
Laura’s work in the fighting world has garnered her a significant following on social media. Boasting 40,000 followers on Twitter and 128,000 on Instagram, her engaged audience has made her an attractive partner for companies. She has had the opportunity to work with several brands, including Eat to Evolve and Direct Hemp.
6. Maintaining an Active Lifestyle
Though her days as a competitive athlete are behind her, Laura continues to train. In addition to regular gym workouts, she also works with a fighting trainer. While it’s highly unlikely she’ll return to the cage as a fighter, her fans would undoubtedly love to see it.
7. Childhood Karate Enthusiast
Even though she didn’t always view fighting as a career option, Laura developed an interest in martial arts at a very young age. Inspired by the movie Karate Kid, she knew she wanted to be involved in karate. After years of training, she eventually earned a black belt.
8. Piano Virtuoso
Laura’s talents extend beyond fighting and interviewing. According to MMA Junkie, she is also a trained pianist who practiced for many years. She even considered studying piano performance in college before ultimately deciding on business.
9. Avid Horse Rider
Laura has a deep appreciation for the outdoors and animals, particularly horses. They have been a significant part of her life for as long as she can remember. Growing up, she rode and trained horses and continued to ride regularly into adulthood. Unfortunately, her busy schedule has limited her ability to ride as often as she’d like.
10. Aspiring to Be the UFC’s First Full-Time Female Commentator
Laura is enjoying her career on the media side of sports, but there’s one goal she’s determined to achieve. She aspires to become the UFC’s first-ever full-time female commentator. Confident in her knowledge and skills, she believes she’s the perfect fit for the role, and her fans would undoubtedly love to see her in that position.
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