Luke Sanders
Luke Daniel Sanders (born December 12, 1985)[1] is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2011, he has also formerly competed for Strikeforce and the RFA.
Luke Sanders | |
---|---|
Born | Luke Daniel Sanders[1] December 12, 1985 Brenham, Texas, United States |
Other names | Cool Hand |
Residence | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States[2] |
Nationality | American |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb) |
Division | Featherweight Bantamweight |
Reach | 71 in (180 cm)[3] |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States[2] |
Team | Nashville MMA The MMA Lab (2010–2019)[4] Fight Ready (2019–present) |
Years active | 2011–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 17 |
Wins | 13 |
By knockout | 7 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 4 |
Losses | 4 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 3 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Background
Born in Brenham, Texas and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Sanders was athletic from a young age; he won national titles in BMX and finished fourth at the grand nationals event in 1992 at the age of seven.[5] He started wrestling in the second grade, winning a state championship for Montgomery Central High School in 2004 at 145 lbs.[5][6] Sanders also played hockey, winning two state championships in 2001 and 2002. He began competing in Toughman contests at the age of 17, winning several tournaments, and holds an amateur boxing record of 9-0.[5]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Sanders compiled an amateur record of 4-0 before making his professional debut for Strikeforce in 2011. Sanders won via TKO in the first round. He then continued his unbeaten streak, compiling a record of 10-0 before being signed by the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Sanders made his promotional debut as a short notice injury replacement on January 17, 2016 against Maximo Blanco at UFC Fight Night 81.[7] He won the fight via submission in the first round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[8][9]
Sanders next faced Iuri Alcântara on March 4, 2017 at UFC 209.[10] He was handed his first professional loss via submission (kneebar) in the second round.[11]
Sanders was scheduled to face Felipe Arantes on September 16, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 116.[12] However, the fight was scrapped after Arantes fell sick on September 14 from an undisclosed illness.[13]
Sanders was expected to face Bryan Caraway on December 9, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 123.[14] However, on November 20, Caraway pulled out from the fight with undisclosed reason[15] and he was replaced by Andre Soukhamthath.[16] Sanders lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[17] California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) flagged Sanders, after the event, of gaining more than 10% of weight from weight-in weight against on fight day weight, from 135.6 Ibs to 154.5 Ibs, which well over the commission regulation contracted weight of staying within 10% body weight gain for CSAC would not license to Sanders to fight in bantamweight bout in California.[18]
Sanders faced Patrick Williams on April 14, 2018 at UFC on Fox 29.[19] Despite knocking Williams down in the first round, Sanders went on to win the fight via unanimous decision.[20] The bout marked the last of Sanders' prevailing contract and after entertaining other offers, he opted to re-sign with the UFC.[21]
Sanders faced Rani Yahya on August 25, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 135.[22] He lost the fight via heel hook submission in the first round.[23]
Sanders faced Renan Barão on February 17, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 1.[24] At the weigh-ins, Barão weighed in at 138 pounds, 2 pounds over the Bantamweight non-title fight upper limit of 136 lbs. As a result, the bout proceeded at catchweight and Barão was fined 20% of his purse which went to Sanders.[25] Sanders won the fight via knockout in the second round.[26] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[27]
Sanders was scheduled to face Chris Gutiérrez on August 1, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan.[28] However, Sanders was removed from the bout in mid-July for undisclosed reasons and replaced by promotional newcomer Cody Durden.[29]
Sanders faced Nathan Maness on November 28 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Lewis.[30] He lost the fight via second round submission. [31]
Personal life
Sanders has a daughter Riley from his previous relationship and a son Jagger (born 2020).[2][4]
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Maximo Blanco & Renan Barão [32]
- Resurrection Fighting Alliance
- RFA Bantamweight Championship (One time; former)
- One successful title defense
- RFA Bantamweight Championship (One time; former)
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
17 matches | 13 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 7 | 1 |
By submission | 2 | 3 |
By decision | 4 | 0 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 13–4 | Nate Maness | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark | November 28, 2020 | 2 | 2:29 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
Win | 13–3 | Renan Barão | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez | February 17, 2019 | 2 | 1:01 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Catchweight (138 lb) bout; Barão missed weight. Performance of the Night. |
Loss | 12–3 | Rani Yahya | Submission (heel hook) | UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick | August 25, 2018 | 1 | 1:31 | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States | |
Win | 12–2 | Patrick Williams | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje | April 14, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | |
Loss | 11–2 | Andre Soukhamthath | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega | December 9, 2017 | 2 | 1:06 | Fresno, California, United States | |
Loss | 11–1 | Iuri Alcântara | Submission (kneebar) | UFC 209 | March 4, 2017 | 2 | 3:13 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 11–0 | Maximo Blanco | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz | January 17, 2016 | 1 | 3:38 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Featherweight bout. Performance of the Night. |
Win | 10–0 | Terrion Ware | Decision (unanimous) | AXS TV Fights: RFA vs. Legacy FC | May 8, 2015 | 5 | 5:00 | Robinsonville, Mississippi, United States | Defended the RFA Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 9–0 | Jarred Mercado | TKO (knee and punches) | RFA 20 | November 7, 2014 | 1 | 1:06 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Won the vacant RFA Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 8–0 | Darrick Minner | TKO (punches) | RFA 17 | August 22, 2014 | 2 | 3:15 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
Win | 7–0 | Dan Moret | Decision (unanimous) | RFA 13 | March 7, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States | |
Win | 6–0 | Zach Underwood | TKO (punches) | XFC 26: Night of Champions 3 | October 18, 2013 | 2 | 3:38 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
Win | 5–0 | Javon Wright | Decision (split) | Rhino Fighting Championships 7 | July 19, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Spring Hill, Tennessee, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | Zachary Sanders | TKO (punches and elbows) | XFC 18: Music City Mayhem | June 22, 2012 | 1 | 4:53 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
Win | 3–0 | J.R. Hines | TKO (punches) | Gameness FC 10 | November 19, 2011 | 1 | 2:08 | Goodlettsville, Tennessee, United States | |
Win | 2–0 | Latral Perdue | Submission | Gameness FC 9 | April 28, 2011 | 1 | 1:07 | Goodlettsville, Tennessee, United States | |
Win | 1–0 | Josh Jarvis | TKO (punches) | Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine | January 7, 2011 | 1 | 3:15 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Featherweight debut. |
References
- Mixed martial arts show results Date: November 28, 2020
- Thomas Gerbasi (November 24, 2020). "Luke Sanders Preps Body And Mind For Vegas Return". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- "Luke Sanders ("Cool Hand") | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
- Matt Quiggins (May 6, 2015). "RFA Champion Luke Sanders: 'This Is My Route and I'm Willing to Fight'". combatpress.com.
- "Luke Sanders - Official UFC® Profile". Ufc.com. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
- Jon Gugala (January 16, 2014). "Luke Sanders beats people up for money — and it's making him a rising MMA star". Nashville Scene.
- Staff (2016-01-04). "Luke Sanders steps in to fight Maximo Blanco; UFC Fight Night 81 lineup shuffled". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- Ben Fowlkes (2016-01-17). "UFC Fight Night 81 results: Luke Sanders chokes Maximo Blanco in octagon debut". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
- Tristen Critchfield (2016-01-18). "UFC Fight Night Bonuses: Cruz, Dillashaw, Herman, Sanders pocket $50K checks". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
- Marcelo Barone (2016-12-15). "Ultimate forwards fight fit between Marajó and Sanders for March" (in Portuguese). sportv.globo.com. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
- Dave Doyle (2017-03-04). "UFC 209 results: Iuri Alcantara surprises Luke Sanders with kneebar finish". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
- Craig Meyer (2017-08-08). "Luke Sanders vs. Felipe Arantes added to Sept. 16 UFC card at PPG Paints Arena". post-gazette.com. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
- Dave Doyle (2017-09-14). "Illness forces cancelation of Felipe Arantes vs. Luke Sanders bout at UFC Pittsburgh". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
- Dave Doyle (2017-10-10). "Bryan Caraway vs. Luke Sanders set for UFC Fresno". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- "Bryan Caraway out at UFC-Fresno, Luke Sanders needs new opponent". MMAjunkie. 2017-11-21. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
- DNA, MMA. "Andre Soukhamthath vervangt Bryan Caraway tegen Luke Sanders tijdens UFC Fresno". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
- "UFC Fight Night 123 results: Andre Soukhamthath TKOs Luke Sanders in second for first UFC win". MMAjunkie. 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "Marlon Moraes among four fighters CSAC recommends move up in weight after UFC Fresno". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
- Greg Moore (2018-02-06). "Former ASU wrestling star Patrick Williams added to UFC on FOX 29 at Gila River Arena". azcentral.com. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
- John Morgan (April 14, 2018). "UFC on FOX 29 results: Luke Sanders' left hand pushes him past Patrick Williams". MMAjunkie.com.
- David Boclair (February 15, 2019). "Sanders fighting to stay in UFC". NashvillePost.com.
- DNA, MMA. "BJJ wizard Rani Yahya treft Luke Sanders tijdens UFC Lincoln". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
- "UFC Fight Night 135 results: Rani Yahya taps Luke Sanders, calls for title shot vs. Dillashaw". MMAjunkie. 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
- Lee, Alexander K. (2018-12-14). "Renan Barao vs. Luke Sanders, two other bouts booked for UFC's ESPN premiere". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- "UFC on ESPN 1 weigh-in results: Three fighters miss, but all fights set". MMAjunkie. 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
- "UFC on ESPN 1 results: Luke Sanders rallies to stop Renan Barao in second". MMAjunkie. 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
- Hiergesell, Dan (2019-02-18). "UFC Phoenix Bonuses! Luque, Barberena Battle it Out For $50K Each". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
- DNA, MMA. "Chris Gutierrez vs. Luke Sanders op 1 augustus tijdens UFC evenement". Retrieved 2020-07-06.
- Mike Heck (2020-07-26). "With Luke Sanders out, Chris Gutierrez welcomes newcomer Cody Durden at UFC event Aug. 1". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- DNA, MMA (2020-11-14). "Luke Sanders vs. Nate Maness toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 28 november in Las Vegas". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
- Evanoff, Josh (2020-11-28). "UFC Vegas 15 Results: Nathan Maness Survives, Finishes Luke Sanders". cagesidepress. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
- Hiergesell, Dan (2019-02-18). "UFC Phoenix Bonuses! Luque, Barberena Battle it Out For $50K Each". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
- Sherdog.com. "Luke". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-12-14.