Breaking News: Laura Sanko steps in to fill the commentary shoes for Joe Rogan at UFC 321!
For those of you who love your UFC, get ready for a change! Veteran journalist Damon Martin, who's been immersed in the world of combat sports since 2003, has the scoop. Joe Rogan, a familiar voice for many, won't be joining the broadcast team for UFC 321. The event is slated for Abu Dhabi on October 25th.
Now, why the change? Well, Rogan typically doesn't travel for international events, and this is the second pay-per-view card this month. Stepping up to the plate is none other than Laura Sanko, who's set to provide color commentary. This is a significant moment, as Sanko's role has been growing within the UFC. She's already made her mark as a regular color commentator since 2023. Her previous pay-per-view appearance was at UFC 293 in Australia.
But who else will be there? Alongside Sanko, we'll have Jon Anik handling play-by-play duties, and the legendary UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier will also be lending his expertise with color commentary. And keeping us in the loop as the in-house reporter will be the seasoned broadcaster John Gooden.
The UFC confirmed these exciting broadcast plans to MMA Fighting on Wednesday.
And this is the part most people miss... Beyond the commentary team, the fights themselves are shaping up to be epic. The main event features Tom Aspinall defending his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. But that's not all! The co-main event will see Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern battling it out for the vacant strawweight title, after Zhang Weili moved to flyweight.
Here's a practical tip: Because the event is in Abu Dhabi, the schedule is shifted. The pay-per-view main card will kick off at 2 p.m. ET, and the prelims will start at 10 a.m. ET on October 25th. Make sure you set your alarms!
What do you think of the new commentary team? Will you miss Joe Rogan, or are you excited to see Laura Sanko in action? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
