Tom Aspinall was among the first in MMA to congratulate Laura Sanko on landing her black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad also offered his support to Sanko, who said her 19-year journey in the discipline was ‘just the beginning.’
Sanko, 42, created history in January 2023 when she became the first female colour commentator in modern UFC history to appear on a UFC broadcast.
She joined the broadcast booth for Derrick Lewis’ Fight Night main event with Serghei Spivac, and was the first woman to do so since Kathy Long at UFC 1 in 1993.
The Chicago native is a retired MMA fighter having competed at American promotion Invicta FC in 2013, winning her one and only bout via submission.
She won four of her five amateur bouts before turning professional with the all-female promotion.
Sanko has now achieved black belt status in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is a rare feat only held by the very best grapplers in the world.
“It feels amazing to join the black belt club,” Sanko wrote on her Instagram on Tuesday,
“A 19 year journey that is just [the] beginning. So many people have played a role in getting me here.
“I won’t attempt to name them all, but to all the coaches who poured their knowledge into me and every training partner who swapped blood and sweat with me over the years…THANK YOU.”
An account affiliated with UFC interim heavyweight champion Aspinall commented: “Congratulations,” while Muhammad added: “Congrats.”
UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger and Olympian Kayla Harrison said: “A black belt is a white belt who never quit.”
Fellow UFC broadcaster Jon Anik responded with fire emojis, while former UFC champion Joanna Jedrzejcyk added: “Congrats.”
UFC’s past and present, such as Kiefer Crosbie and Holly Holm, also responded to Sanko’s achievement, with another calling it amazing.
Last March, Sanko was involved in a heated debate with ex-UFC fighter Jamie Varner, who publicly questioned her commenters credentials.
“Laura Sanko sucks so bad at commentating! She’s a try hard that speaks about things she knows nothing about,” Varner wrote on social media.
Sanko responded: “It’s ok that you don’t like my commentary, but respectfully, I’ve been a part of this game and training since 2006.
“I’m a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu and while I can’t compare my career to yours, I have in fact fought.
“And if UFC had a 105lb division I would have fought a lot longer.”
Sanko returns to commentary action this weekend for UFC Kansas City, alongside ex-UFC lightweight Paul Felder and broadcaster Brendan Fitzgerald.
She will be calling the action in her native Missouri as Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry takes on Carlos Prates at welterweight in the main event.
