Luke Daniel Sanders (born December 12, 1985) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division. A professional competitor since 2011, he also competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Strikeforce and the RFA.
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Background
Born in Brenham, Texas and raised in Clarksville, 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. He started wrestling in the second grade, winning a state championship for Montgomery Central High School in 2004 at 145 lbs. 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.
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. He won the fight via submission in the first round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.
Sanders next faced Iuri Alcântara on March 4, 2017, at UFC 209. He was handed his first professional loss via submission (kneebar) in the second round.
Sanders was scheduled to face Felipe Arantes on September 16, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 116. However, the fight was scrapped after Arantes fell sick on September 14 from an undisclosed illness.
Sanders was expected to face Bryan Caraway on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 123. However, on November 20, Caraway pulled out from the fight with undisclosed reason and he was replaced by Andre Soukhamthath. Sanders lost the fight via TKO in the second round. 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.
Sanders faced Patrick Williams on April 14, 2018, at UFC on Fox 29. Despite knocking Williams down in the first round, Sanders went on to win the fight via unanimous decision. The bout marked the last of Sanders' prevailing contract and after entertaining other offers, he opted to re-sign with the UFC.
Sanders faced Rani Yahya on August 25, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 135. He lost the fight via heel hook submission in the first round.
Sanders faced Renan Barão on February 17, 2018, at UFC on ESPN 1. 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. Sanders won the fight via knockout in the second round. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Personal life
As of 2023, Luke is happily married and continuing to grow his family with his wife.
Championships and accomplishments
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Maximo Blanco & Renan Barão
Resurrection Fighting Alliance
RFA Bantamweight Championship (One time; former)
One successful title defense