| Luke Sanders | |
|---|---|
| Born | Luke Daniel Sanders[1] (1985-12-12)December 12, 1985 (age 39) 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 | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 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 (2019–2021) |
| Years active | 2011–2021 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 18 |
| Wins | 13 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Luke Daniel Sanders (born December 12, 1985)[1] is a retired Americanmixed martial artist who competed in theBantamweight division. A professional competitor since 2011, he also competed for theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC),Strikeforce and theRFA.
Born inBrenham, Texas and raised inClarksville, Tennessee, Sanders was athletic from a young age; he won national titles inBMX and finished fourth at the grand nationals event in 1992 at the age of seven.[5] He startedwrestling in the second grade, winning a state championship forMontgomery Central High School in 2004 at 145 lbs.[5][6] Sanders also playedhockey, winning two state championships in 2001 and 2002. He began competing inToughman contests at the age of 17, winning several tournaments, and holds an amateur boxing record of 9–0.[5]
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.
Sanders made his promotional debut as a short notice injury replacement on January 17, 2016, againstMaximo Blanco atUFC Fight Night 81.[7] He won the fight via submission in the first round and was awarded aPerformance of the Night bonus.[8][9]
Sanders next facedIuri Alcântara on March 4, 2017, atUFC 209.[10] He was handed his first professional loss via submission (kneebar) in the second round.[11]
Sanders was scheduled to faceFelipe Arantes on September 16, 2017, atUFC 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 faceBryan Caraway on December 9, 2017, atUFC Fight Night 123.[14] However, on November 20, Caraway pulled out from the fight with undisclosed reason[15] and he was replaced byAndre 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 facedPatrick Williams on April 14, 2018, atUFC 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 facedRani Yahya on August 25, 2018, atUFC Fight Night 135.[22] He lost the fight via heel hook submission in the first round.[23]
Sanders facedRenan Barão on February 17, 2018, atUFC 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 thePerformance of the Night award.[27]
Sanders was scheduled to faceChris Gutiérrez on August 1, 2020, atUFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan.[28] However, Sanders was removed from the bout in mid-July for undisclosed reasons and replaced by promotional newcomerCody Durden.[29]
Sanders facedNate Maness on November 28, 2020, atUFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Lewis.[30] He lost the fight via second round submission.[31]
Sanders was initially scheduled to faceDamon Jackson on May 1, 2021, atUFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[32] However, Jackson withdrew from the bout and was replaced byFelipe Colares – whose opponent also withdrew from the event – in a featherweight bout.[33] Despite knocking Colares down multiple times in the first round, Sanders lost the bout via unanimous decision.[34] The bout was the last of his prevailing contract and it was not renewed, making Sanders a free agent.[35][36]
On May 8, 2021, It was announced that Sanders has retired from mixed martial arts.[37]
As of 2023, Luke is happily married and continuing to grow his family with his wife.[2][4]
| 18 matches | 13 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 3 |
| By decision | 4 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 13–5 | Felipe Colares | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka | May 1, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| 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 | Sanders was deducted one point in round 1 due to an illegal knee. |
| 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. |