Undefeated Featherweight Prospect Luke Sanders Looks to Take Next Step at RFA 13

Entering his third year of pro MMA, featherweight prospect Luke Sanders feels he’s made the right steps in order to build a successful career.

Since making his debut in the Strikeforce Challengers series in 2011, Sanders has steadily built himself into a 6-0 fighter with big show potential.

“I feel like I’ve done well in my fights,” he said. “There are always things that I see that I could have done and should have done and try to make corrections on, but so far I feel like I’m doing well and I’m on the right track to where I need to be to get father in my career and keep progressing.

“It was a great experience fighting for the XFC (the last two years) and getting some exposure and getting to test myself against elite competition is a great thing.”

Sanders learned an especially important lesson going to a decision for the first time in his career last year against Javon Wright in July.

“I had a tough fight (against Wright) and I know what a three-round fight feels like and now I know what I need to do to keep from being in those again,” said Sanders. “(I learned a lot) as far as mentality going into a fight and how it affects your performance and stuff.”

Sanders has done so well that he caught the eye of the RFA, where he’s signed to face fellow undefeated fighter Dan Moret (6-0) in a 145-pound showdown at RFA 13 on Friday in Lincoln, Neb.

“Stylistically it’s a tough match-up,” said Sanders. “I think I have to go out there (against Moret) and do what I do and implement my game plan and I’ll be able to come out on top.

“In this kind of situation with two undefeated guys at 6-0, we’ve chipped away at 12 guys (combined) and the winner of this can beat a fighter who’s had 12 fights.”

Sanders understands how important this fight is for not only staying a top prospect, but also setting the tone for the remainder of his year.

“I’d like to win a few in a row and go to the next level this year,” Sanders told MMAWeekly.com. “As far as right now, I’ve got to win the fight ahead of me. Until then I can’t really base the year off it.

“I have to gauge what’s in front of me and go from there. I’m not looking past this upcoming fight.”