After dropping three of four fights, Luke Sanders knows he could be fighting for his job at UFC Phoenix. But late last year, a lot of attention was given to his personal relationship with WWE star Becky Lynch.
Lynch was often seen at Sanders' MMA fights and on UFC programming as a result. However, last year the two went their separate ways, which Sanders detailed to Fightful's James Lynch in an exclusive interview.
"Everything was cool when we separated, it was most family stuff. My daughter, me taking her on full time after my last fight, being the mother and the father role all at once. That was a lot. She travels a lot and does a lot of extracurricular activity. Putting that energy into her and putting my all into that (with my daughter), I want her to know I have her and have her back," said Sanders.
As far as Becky Lynch's success that has unfolded since their breakup, Sanders isn't surprised and wishes her well.
"I always believed in her, and always had good vibes that she was going to do well. She's where she needs to be, she deserves it and she earned it, so good for her," said Sanders.
Looking forward, Sanders has a huge test -- and possibly his job on the line -- against former UFC Champion Renan Barao in Phoenix.
"I'm gonna get my hand raised, I don't know how, but I gotta walk out the winner. I need to win this fight, I'm not thinking about anything else but winning. It is the mentality that I need this win," Sanders told us.
In the full interview with Fightful's James Lynch, Luke Sanders (12-3) discusses his upcoming fight against Renan Barao (34-7) at UFC on ESPN 1 on Feb. 17.
