Prior to each UFC card, Jay Primetown takes a close look at debuting fighters. In the latest installment, we look at former RFA Bantamweight Champion Luke Sanders as he takes on Maximo Blanco in a featherweight clash at Fight Night 81. Luke “Cool Hand” Sanders Hometown: Brenham. Texas Age: 30 Height: 5’8” Reach: 71” Weight Class: Featherweight Camp: MMA Lab/Nashville MMA Career Record: 10-0 Key Wins: Terrion Ware Key Losses: None Background The former RFA bantamweight champion enters the UFC with a record of a 10-0 with his last win coming against Terrion Ware. He was a standout high school athlete with state championships in both hockey and wrestling. Strengths
- Aggressive fighter
- Diverse striker
- Fantastic cardio
- Great in transitions
- Good elbows in touch top control
- Gameplan always changing
Weaknesses
- Not the most technical striker
- Control on the ground not as good as it should be
- Undersized for featherweight
Matchup with Maximo Blanco A very interesting matchup at Fight Night 81 is Maximo Blanco against newcomer Luke Sanders. Blanco has been fighting at featherweight, while Sanders had fought in the weight class early in his career, but primarily at bantamweight. Blanco is certainly the more technical striker with more pop in his hands. As far as athleticism, Blanco is generally the more athletic fighter in the cage, but Sanders is certainly no slouch. Sanders is very well-rounded and appears more UFC-ready than the vast majority of fighters who enter the Octagon for the first time. How Sanders deals with Blanco’s power is the biggest question mark in this fight. Sanders is moving up in weight (taking the fight on short notice) and likely has never faced a fighter with as potent of hands as Blanco. If Blanco doesn’t catch him during the fight, Sanders should do very well. His constant pressure will wear out Blanco. By the third round, Blanco will be exhausted and Sanders should be able to have his way with his veteran opponent and get the win. UFC Ceiling Luke Sanders is a fighter I’ve been watching for a few years now. He’s a very good athlete with a style that will give nearly everyone he faces difficulty. He has excellent cardio and constantly pushes forward. He’s always working inside the cage not allowing his opponents to breathe. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t have a good career in the UFC. At some point, I’d expect to see his name in the UFC’s rankings at bantamweight. He’s certainly not young (already 30 years old), but he needs to continue working on his technical skills. If he puts in the work and improves his technical striking, he’s a potential contender. Fight Film Check out Luke Sanders in some of his most recent fights: Luke Sanders vs. Jarred Mercado (highlights) Luke Sanders vs. Darrick Minner