MMA News

Tag: Jon Anik

  • UFC 321 Commentary Team: Who’s Replacing Joe Rogan In The Broadcast Booth In Abu Dhabi?

    UFC 321 Commentary Team: Who’s Replacing Joe Rogan In The Broadcast Booth In Abu Dhabi?

    UFC 321 is set to electrify the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE tonight (Saturday, October 25), with a stacked card of fights.

    UFC’s 11th pay-per-view of 2025 features a thrilling championship doubleheader. In the main event, heavyweight king Tom Aspinall defends his undisputed title for the first time against former interim champion Ciryl Gane.

    Meanwhile, in the co-main event, top strawweight contenders Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern collide for the vacant 115-pound UFC title. The UFC 321 main card also features a pivotal bantamweight showdown as former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov goes head-to-head with Mario Bautista.

    UFC 321 Commentary & Broadcast Team

    UFC 321 viewers won’t catch the familiar voice of veteran commentator Joe Rogan, who, as always, does not travel for international events and will be absent from the broadcast in Abu Dhabi.

    Joe Rogan will be missing from UFC 321 commentary team
    Image: UFC/YouTube

    Stepping into the booth, former MMA fighter turned analyst Laura Sanko makes her second PPV appearance, providing expert color commentary alongside the dynamic duo of play-by-play announcer Jon Anik and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier.

    As usual, legendary Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer returns, electrifying the crowd with his signature energy and iconic flair as he hypes up every fighter before each matchup.

    Behind the scenes at UFC 321, commentator John Gooden will bring fans closer to the action, conducting pre- and post-fight interviews with fighters and delivering live updates throughout the night.

    UFC veterans Anthony Smith, Chael Sonnen, and Paul Felder will complete the broadcast team, offering expert analysis from the desk during the event and on the post-fight show, hosted by Brendan Fitzgerald.

    Image: @ufc/X
  • UFC 320: Who Are Handling Commentary & Broadcast Duties Tonight?

    UFC 320: Who Are Handling Commentary & Broadcast Duties Tonight?

    UFC 320 is set to light up the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight (Saturday, October 4), promising an action-packed night of bouts.

    UFC’s 10th pay-per-view of 2025 is headlined by a championship doubleheader. In the main event, light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev puts his belt on the line in a eagerly awaited rematch with former champ Alex Pereira.

    Meanwhile, in the co-main, reigning bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili looks to secure his third title defense of the year against perennial contender Cory Sandhagen. Additionally, the main card of UFC 320 will also feature a potential barnburner, as former 205-pound champion Jiri Prochazka takes on former title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr.

    UFC 320 Commentary & Broadcast Team

    The UFC 320 commentary team will feature the return of play-by-play announcer Jon Anik, coming off his recent broadcast of the Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez boxing showdown. He’ll team up with his regular color commentator duo, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier and veteran analyst Joe Rogan.

    As always, the legendary Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer will be back, bringing his signature energy and unmistakable flair as he introduces each fighter ahead of every matchup.

    UFC correspondent Megan Olivi will be on hand at UFC 320 to conduct backstage pre- and post-fight interviews with the fighters, and will team up with Karyn Bryant while providing live updates from the arena throughout the night.

    Meanwhile, Din Thomas is part of the broadcast as a coach, offering expert analysis throughout the event. UFC veterans Anthony Smith, Chael Sonnen, and Dominick Cruz will round out the team, serving as desk analysts during the broadcast and on the post-fight show.

    Image: @ufc/X

  • UFC Commentator Crowns Paddy Pimblett: ‘Best Trash Talker in MMA Today’

    For Jon Anik’s money, there’s no better trash-talker in the fight game today than Paddy Pimblett.

    Since making his promotional debut in 2021, ‘The Baddy’ has become a bona fide star inside the Octagon. Aside from a solic 7-0 record under the UFC banner, Pimblett has grown a massive fan following courtesy of his brash attitude and unwavering confidence.

    Many, including Anik, have even likened the Liverpudlian’s skills on the mic to former champ-champ Conor McGregor, noting how, like ‘The Notorious,’ Pimblett always shoots from the hip.

    “Paddy Pimblett’s a master orator, right? And not unlike Conor McGregor, nothing that Paddy says is scripted,” Anik told MMA Junkie. “And I think that’s a big part of it for me. I love Chael Sonnen—he’s one of the best orators I’ve ever been around, but some of his material was scripted. Paddy Pimblett, they just shoot straight from the hip.

    “But right now, if you’re asking me, the best trash talker in mixed martial arts today is Paddy Pimblett. And I think the Scouser accent is part of the equation. I gotta go. Love you. Thanks. Thanks.”

    Is Paddy Pimblett Ready for the Big Show?

    Pimblett’s star power reached another all-time high last month when he famously stepped into the Octagon immediately following Ilia Topuria’s stunning first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in Las Vegas.

    With years of animosity brewing, Pimblett and Topuria exchanged some NSFW words before a shoving match erupted between the two top stars.

    The incident immediately had fight fans salivating, calling for the UFC to immediately book their long-awaited clash. Unfortunately, Dana White wasn’t exactly thrilled with the encounter, suggesting that the promotion may already have other plans for Pimblett.

  • Jon Anik Declares Merab Dvalishvili the GOAT – Even Over His Best Friend Dominick Cruz

    Jon Anik Declares Merab Dvalishvili the GOAT – Even Over His Best Friend Dominick Cruz

    Jon Anik already sees Merab Dvalishvili as being the msot accomplished 135 pound fighter in MMA history, over the likes of Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw. The UFC commentator spoke about this on a recent episode of MMA Junkie Radio about several of the big topics heading into UFC 316. This card set to go down on Saturday features a pair of bantamweight title bouts with Merab Dvalishvili defending his crown agaisnt Sean O’Malley in a rematch. While in the co-main event, Julianna Pena defends her 135 pound strap against Kayla Harrison. When touching on the run of the Georgian athlete within the UFC’s bantamweight ranks.

    Merab Dvalishvili Might be the GOAT

    Anik said:

    “Pretty historic, I think. Well, it’s actually 12 straight wins, and he has already defended the title. I do believe he already has status as the greatest bantamweight of all time. And I say that as a man who—if I got married this weekend—Dominick Cruz would be a groomsman. He’s one of my best friends in the world. But when I look at the body of work of Merab Dvalishvili in the modern era, he could be 14–0 in the UFC. He lost to Frankie Saenz and then had a contentious ending against Ricky Simon.

    Merab Dvalishvili & Sean O'Malley
    Image: @ufc/X

    With respect to those two guys, it’s been 12 straight wins ever since. And to your point, he left a murderer’s row of champions in his wake before he even fought for the title—beat Henry Cejudo, beat Petr Yan, beat José Aldo. Then he beat Sean O’Malley, defended the title on the challengers’ timeline by beating Umar Nurmagomedov, and now the rematch with Sean O’Malley.

    As far as I’m concerned—with respect to Aljamain Sterling and my BFF Dominick Cruz—the greatest bantamweight of all time, not so quietly, is Merab ‘The Machine’ Dvalishvili.”

    Merab Dvalishvili
    (Merab Dvalishvili on Instagram)

    Jon Anik discusses Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison title bout

    Jon Anik also touched on the second title clash that is set to go down in Newark this weekend. The acclaimed UFC broadcaster spoke of how if Kayla Harrison can usurp Julianna Pena‘s throne, the multi-time Olympic gold medalist has the potential to become the face of women’s MMA. Jon Anik also spoke of some fighters having global star power but not always the domestic noteriety, in a North American context, but sees Harrison as someone with a great story that can really propel her into that pop culture zeitgeist of broader awareness both in America and around the world.

  • Jon Anik Sees Stardom In The Future Of Big UFC 313 Winner

    Jon Anik Sees Stardom In The Future Of Big UFC 313 Winner

    Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik is expecting big things down the line from a man who delivered one of the top performances at UFC 313.

    While Saturday’s pay-per-view main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev failed to bring the kind of entertainment that fans were hoping for, the undercard wasn’t short on notable action.

    Alongside Mauricio Ruffy’s spinning wheel kick knockout and Justin Gaethje’s latest brutal war inside the Octagon, rising lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes notched the biggest win of his career to date.

    The Chilean made the most of his first opportunity at cracking the rankings, locking in a shock triangle choke submission to force longtime veteran Jalin Turner to tap out in the very first round.

    In Bahamondes’ corner, an ecstatic UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad reiterated to the camera the potential of his teammate, and Anik, too, foresees the possibility of stardom for for “La Jaula” — providing he continues to hit the mark on the scales.

    Anik tweet on UFC 313

    “Nacho can be a huge star,” Anik wrote on X a couple of days on from UFC 313. “Big personality. Fluent in two languages. One of the best strikers in the UFC. Will also choke you the f*ck out. Latin America couldn’t have a better ambassador in the UFC. Just hope he can keep making 156 (155) lbs!”

    Bahamondes has missed weight once in the UFC and twice overall in professional MMA. He came in three quarters of a pound overweight for his clash with John Makdessi back in 2021.

    The Chilean up-and-comer did also appear to have a scare last week prior to UFC 313, requiring a box late in the weigh-in window to hit the 156-pound limit for non-title lightweight bouts.

  • Anik Ponders Division Change For Alex Pereira After UFC 313 — And It’s Not Heavyweight

    Anik Ponders Division Change For Alex Pereira After UFC 313 — And It’s Not Heavyweight

    At UFC 313, Alex Pereira faces a pivotal moment in his MMA career as he defends his light heavyweight title against the formidable Magomed Ankalaev.

    This matchup is widely considered the toughest test of Pereira’s stint at 205 pounds, sparking debate about his ability to overcome a highly skilled contender.

    Despite the challenge, Pereira’s devastating power and striking precision always make victory a possibility. And should that be the case, beyond this weekend’s fight, speculation continues to swirl about the future of “Poatan.”

    Jon Anik, a leading voice in commentary for the UFC, has presented intriguing possibilities for Pereira’s next move.

    One notable suggestion is a potential return to the middleweight division, where Alex Pereira previously held the championship. This scenario could set up exciting matchups and compelling narratives for the Brazilian fighter.

    “Alex Pereira can still make middleweight, and he wants to fight Dricus du Plessis,” Anik said. “He did not defend the UFC middleweight championship. Of all the accolades for the future UFC Hall of Famer Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira, he never defended the middleweight championship, and if you think for a second that he doesn’t have an appetite — no pun intended — to go back down to 185 (pounds), you’re absolutely crazy.

    “If the calendar doesn’t align for him to challenge Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall in the heavyweight division, I don’t think he’s going to stick around at 205 to fight Bogdan Guskov, even though you and I f*cking love the guy. He’s probably going to try to go down to 185 and fight Dricus Du Plessis.”

  • Anik Says Jon Jones Has Surpassed Other Undefeated Greats: ‘With Respect To Calzaghe & Mayweather…’

    Anik Says Jon Jones Has Surpassed Other Undefeated Greats: ‘With Respect To Calzaghe & Mayweather…’

    UFC broadcaster Jon Anik has declared Jon Jones as not just the greatest fighter in MMA history but arguably in all combat sports.

    Jones boasts a 28-1 professional record, with his sole loss being a disqualification for an illegal 12-6 elbow against Matt Hamill. Interestingly, the 12-6 elbow is now legal under the new MMA Unified Rules adopted in New York. His résumé includes victories over some of the most elite fighters to ever step inside the Octagon, solidifying his status as a legend in the sport.

    “I think, with respect to Joe Calzaghe and Floyd Mayweather, that Jon Jones has already pushed himself beyond those guys,” Anik told MMA Junkie. “Even if people want to denigrate the Stipe win because it happened at 42 years of age, I don’t think there really is anything left for Jon Jones to accomplish. But there is financial gain to be had.”

    Though the reigning heavyweight champion has dismissed the idea of facing interim titleholder Tom Aspinall, Jones has expressed interest in a blockbuster matchup with current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

    As speculation swirls, Jones is reportedly in discussions with the UFC for a potential return in 2025, keeping fans eager for what’s next in his legendary career.

  • Jon Anik Names UFC Champion Who Still ‘Doesn’t Get His Due’

    UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik hopes to see flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja getting more appreciation for his status as one of the promotion’s best.

    Pantoja has solidified his reputation as one of the top fighters in the UFC, earning accolades for his skill, tenacity, and dominance in the 125-pound division. At UFC 310 on Dec. 7, “The Cannibal” is set to defend his title for the third time against Kai Asakura, a formidable newcomer known for his electrifying style.

    Despite his success, Pantoja, like many flyweight champions before him, struggles to gain the widespread recognition enjoyed by fighters in larger weight classes. This sentiment echoes the experiences of former flyweight great Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, whose technical brilliance often went underappreciated due to the division’s lower commercial draw.

    UFC commentator Jon Anik highlighted this ongoing issue during a recent interview with MMA Junkie, praising Pantoja while expressing frustration at the lack of recognition the champion receives.

    “Very excited to see Kai Asakura live for the first time – electric fighter,” Anik said. “I just think that Pantoja is the absolute man. He just doesn’t get his due.”

    This bout was initially scheduled as the UFC 310 co-main event, with the original headliner featuring welterweight champion Belal Muhammad defending his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    However, “Remember the Name’s” injury led to his withdrawal, promoting Pantoja vs. Asakura to the main event slot.

  • UFC Commentator: Jon Jones Losing To Tom Aspinall Isn’t ‘Legacy Diminishing,’ But He Must Get Big Money For The Fight

    UFC Commentator: Jon Jones Losing To Tom Aspinall Isn’t ‘Legacy Diminishing,’ But He Must Get Big Money For The Fight

    UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones made it perfectly clear in the aftermath of his UFC 309 main event win that if the promotion wants him back inside the Octagon for a huge fight, they’ll have to get the chequebook out. “Bones” has already mentioned getting “F*** you” money for a return and that is likely to be even more so the case if he’s going to be tempted into fighting Tom Aspinall.

    Even with a fight as big as Jones vs the light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, being one of two options, most fight fans are leaning towards the other. The only issue being that the heavyweight unification fight is something that the consensus greatest of all time doesn’t seem overly interested in.

    Though he’s said that he doesn’t think a fight with Aspinall adds to his legacy, many have criticized Jones for avoiding the fight because it’s the biggest threat to his stellar record. UFC commentator Jon Anik believes that even if he was to lose to the interim champion, it wouldn’t tarnish all of the incredible performances he has put on inside the Octagon.

    However, with the threat that Aspinall brings to the table, Anik agrees with Jones that he would deserve a career-high payday for this fight not just because of how big it is but because of the risk in taking it. He told MMA Junkie that the assurance of receiving a huge purse to end his career on could be the turning point that makes this fight happen.

    “I think what he wants is like that $30, $40, $50 million payday which he so deserves at this point in time because in heavyweight MMA, anything can happen and certainly in light heavyweight, anything can happen but the consequences are so great when it comes to four ounce gloves with these guys chucking that I mean yeah, Tom Aspinall could knock Jon Jones out in a minute and I don’t think it’s legacy diminishing whatsoever but you better make $30 million because then at that point in time, maybe Jon Jones doesn’t want to have another training camp and rematch Tom Aspinall or have two or three more fights.”

  • Jon Anik Predicts When Jon Jones Will Fight Tom Aspinall

    Jon Anik Predicts When Jon Jones Will Fight Tom Aspinall

    UFC broadcaster Jon Anik believes Jon Jones’ next fight should keep him in the heavyweight division, fueling ongoing debate among fans.

    While the heavyweight champion has dismissed a potential clash with his interim counterpart in the division, Tom Aspinall, he has expressed interest in a showdown with reigning light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira.

    Regardless of the opponent, Jones is reportedly in talks with the UFC for a return in 2025. Anik speculates that the ideal matchup would see Jones face Aspinall in a unification bout.

    “I have no inside information. I truly don’t. You can call it informed speculation,” Anik shared in an interview with MMA Junkie Radio. “But I do believe that fight is going to happen, and I think what was most telling was the way Jon Jones handled his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. I also spoke to him backstage for ESPN, and he sounded far from retirement. That’s very encouraging.”

    And Anik envisions International Fight Week in July 2025, traditionally held in Las Vegas, as the perfect stage for such a high-stakes fight.

    “It just comes down to what Jon Jones’ number is,” Anik explained. “What is Jon Jones’ net worth? What number is he looking for? Is it $25 million to show? What is Michael Jordan worth? What is the greatest of all time worth? I feel like the company is in a great position to make this fight happen. And I think you’ve got to do Las Vegas, you’ve got to do International Fight Week 2025.”

  • Jon Anik On UFC’s P4P Debate: ‘It Is Islam Makhachev Every Day Of The Week’

    Jon Anik On UFC’s P4P Debate: ‘It Is Islam Makhachev Every Day Of The Week’

    UFC commentator Jon Anik believes Islam Makhachev is right to hold the pound-for-pound throne over fellow champions like Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, and Ilia Topuria.

    Not many topics have received the kind of discourse and scrutiny as the P4P debate in 2024, largely down to UFC CEO Dana White’s fury at the current order.

    Leading the way is lightweight kingpin Makhachev, who followed a pair of title defenses against Alexander Volkanovski in 2023 by stalling the late-career championship ambitions of Dustin Poirier this past June.

    For White, that’s ludicrous. His view is that heavyweight titleholder Jones is the clear and obvious choice, despite not yet defending his gold in the 19 months since his crowning and competing just once since February 2020.

    Before getting back to top spot, “Bones” also has to climb above Alex Pereira. After reeling off three straight title defenses in 2024, the light heavyweight champ occupies the number two position.

    And most recently, Topuria staked his claim and received the nods from some in the community after completing a memorable year of activity with a featherweight defense against Max Holloway. Like he did Alexander Volkanovski this past February, “El Matador” floored “Blessed” with his brutal power, putting himself in a good position to collect the Fighter of the Year accolades.

    During a recent interview with MMA reporter Kevin Iole, Anik assessed the current standings, explaining why he gives the clear advantage to Makhachev over Topuria when it comes to P4P.

    He also detailed why he doesn’t consider Jones worthy of top spot at this moment in time (cover your eyes, Dana).

    “I am but one man with one opinion. … Ilia Topuria’s accomplishments this year are undeniable. To do what he did to Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway successively, relatively close or in their fighting primes, is otherworldly. But for me, KI, Islam Makhachev’s ability to find that takedown and find that submission in his last title defense against Dustin Poirier is about as good as it gets, right?

    “And he was the guy (pound-for-pound number one) going in, so I don’t know that he loses that perch for me. I have always put 155 pounds on a pedestal. I do believe 155 pounds is the deepest division,” Anik continued. “For me, it is Islam Makhachev every day of the week. Jon Jones is in the conversation, but inactivity I think largely takes him out of the discourse.”

    Makhachev has held the crown ever since usurping Jones weeks after his knockout win over Volkanovski in October 2023.

    While Jones has the chance to rise again with a victory over Stipe Miocic next weekend, should the Dagestani get the better of Arman Tsarukyan in their expected title clash next January, “Bones” may have to settle for silver — or perhaps bronze if Alex Pereira holds his position.

  • Julianna Peña Urges Fans To Rewatch UFC 307 Fight Without ‘Garbage’ Commentary

    Julianna Peña Urges Fans To Rewatch UFC 307 Fight Without ‘Garbage’ Commentary

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña believes commentary “bias” has played a part in the negative reaction to her title win earlier this month.

    Peña returned to the mountaintop at 135 pounds in the co-main event of the UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, outpointing longtime rival Raquel Pennington on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

    The result, which came over two years on from “The Venezuelan Vixen’s” first reign being brought to an end by Amanda Nunes, caused considerable debate.

    On MMA Decisions, 25 out of 27 media members scored the five-round contest in favor of Pennington. That sentiment was also shared by 78 percent of over 500 fan scorecards that were submitted.

    The newly crowned queen has been left bemused by the post-fight ‘robbery’ narratives, and she seemingly placed blame on the commentary team during an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned.

    Peña branded the commentary “garbage” while reiterating the reasons why she’s confident that four of the five rounds were won by her.

    “When you throw less and land more, when you’re giving the other girl a bloody nose and a goose egg on her head, when you’re taking her down, when you’re frickin’ making her eyes get as big as plates because you’re hitting her so hard and rocking her sh*t…you can’t tell me that I lost the fight,” Peña said. “I won that fight, and I’m so sick of all these people trying to like, make me feel like I didn’t win.

    “Rewatch the fight without all the commentary bias and you will see clearly that I won that fight,” Peña continued. “Obviously all of the frickin’ MMA media hates my guts. … Every single one of them scored it against me. They need to go rewatch it without all that frickin’ garbage commentary and look at the significant strikes. I threw less and I landed more and they were harder shots. Rewatch it, please!”

    Alongside the controversy regarding the scoring, the other major topic to emerge from Peña’s title win is the next step in the bantamweight division.

    While Kayla Harrison’s victory over Ketlen Vieira on the UFC 307 card has left her as the consensus number one contender, “The Venezuelan Vixen” seemingly has other plans, frequently looking to entice Amanda Nunes back to complete their trilogy instead.

  • Jon Anik Shares Best Potential Matchups For Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, & Dricus Du Plessis

    Jon Anik Shares Best Potential Matchups For Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, & Dricus Du Plessis

    The UFC middleweight division has changed a lot in the last couple of years. The turmoil that started after Anderson Silva finally lost the belt ended with Israel Adesanya unifying the title and defending it five times.

    Alex Pereira then fired through the ranks to take out Izzy at UFC 281 but “The Last Stylebender” reclaimed his belt at UFC 287 with one of the most iconic knockouts of all time.

    Just when it seemed like Adesanya would be champion for at least a couple more years, Sean Strickland pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all time to become champ. He then lost the belt to Dricus Du Plessis, who’s already defended it once against Adesanya.

    Amidst the unusual turbulence at the top ranks, here’s how the UFC middleweight division should operate according to Jon Anik…

    Jon Anik Backs Sean Strickland As Next UFC Middleweight Title Contender While Suggesting Israel Adesanya vs. Khamzat Chimaev

    Anik claimed the UFC middleweight division to be stronger than ever during an interview on the official The Schmo YouTube channel. When asked about who should fight for the title next, the play-by-play commentator named Strickland.

    “I don’t think it’s hyperbolic or overstating it to suggest that the middleweight division, right now, has never been stronger. Right? Sean Strickland’s a worthy number-one contender. Nassourdine Imavov, on and on it could go!”

    Anik backed his choice by recalling the times Strickland has stepped up for the UFC and citing his recent win over Paulo Costa and the extremely close decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis, the current champ. He also credited the former UFC middleweight kingpin for risking his top 5 ranking against Pereira in 2022.

    “Well, in a straight meritocracy, I’m on record as promoting Sean Strickland because he has repeatedly stepped up for the promotion. Let us not forget he put his number four ranking on the line against Alex Pereira when nobody wanted to fight Poatan. He has stepped into main events against guys, he’s stepped into a five round fight against Paulo Costa. And he fought Dricus Du Plessis toe-to-toe. So in a straight meritocracy, if I’m the promoter, I lean Strickland.”

    Although he’s no longer the champ, Adesanya is still likely the biggest draw in the division. So, when asked about the best matchup for his return, Anik named Chimaev who’s fighting Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. With that match, the former champ should be able to make the most of his star power and help elevate Chimaev’s popularity as well.

    “I think if you’re Izzy, you just lay back in the cut and maybe it’s Khamzat. I mean that’s a fight that I think would have some appeal but Khamzat could be in a championship setting.”

    Anik acknowledged that the match between Whittaker and Chimaev is bound to shake things up. The winner will likely have an undeniable claim to a title shot and it’ll be interesting to see whether Strickland will be overlooked in the process.

  • Jon Anik’s Verdict On UFC 306 Main Event: ‘Guys Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad…’

    Jon Anik’s Verdict On UFC 306 Main Event: ‘Guys Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad…’

    The sport of MMA moves so fast that even after a major event like UFC 306, there is very little time before everyone has moved on to the next major talking point.

    Merab Dvalishvili winning the UFC bantamweight title in the main event of the promotion’s second annual Noche UFC already feels like it happened months ago.

    His performance against Sean O’Malley inside the Sphere answered some very intriguing questions that fans had going into the fight.

    Not only was Dvalishvili able to dominate the fight with his grappling when he did close the distance, he was able to avoid taking significant damage for the majority of the duration.

    Jon Anik Says Fighters Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad Don’t Get Enough Credit

    In a recent interview with James Lynch for Middle Easy, UFC commentator Jon Anik gave his thoughts on Dvalishvili’s performance.

    He looked to really emphasize how it wasn’t just the grappling of the challenger at UFC 306 that was impressive, it was his overall game.

    Dvalishvili was constantly moving and giving O’Malley something new to think about and thanks to his unrelenting gas tank, that continued across all five rounds.

    Anik also made reference to Belal Muhammad’s title win at UFC 304 where of course, the biggest takeaway was his grappling success, but that didn’t tell the whole story of the fight where his striking was also very effective.

    “A lot of people might have fancied Umar (Nurmagomedov) against either guy and maybe now they’re not so sure just given how dominant Merab was and guys like Merab Dvalishvili and Belal Muhammad are never going to get credit for what they do as strikers. If they have a nice jab or a nice point of entry but man, the total package of Merab, like the dude needs to be tested for science right? And yeah, I’m saying that for comedic value but what is inside of there?”

    Read also: UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

  • UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

    UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

    Julianna Peña is set to return at UFC 307 after being away from competition for nearly two years.

    The last time that she stepped inside the Octagon, it was as the women’s bantamweight champion.

    Though she came up short on that night in a rematch with Amanda Nunes at UFC 277, her comeback will see her look to reclaim the gold on October 5.

    To do so, Peña will need to answer some questions about whether her time away and injuries will play a factor in her attempt to dethrone Raquel Pennington in Salt Lake City.

    Jon Anik Says That Juliana Peña’s Meanness Will Help Her Overcome Ring Rust At UFC 307

    UFC commentator Jon Anik expressed in a recent interview with Middle Easy that he isn’t concerned about Peña’s time away from the Octagon heading into this fight.

    Though he did say that ring rust can be a factor depending on the fighter in question, he believes that the challenger is not someone that it will phase.

    Anik referenced how if you listen to how the former champion’s coaches and teammates speak about her, they will immediately make reference to her aggressive mindset when she’s in the cage.

    With this in mind, he doesn’t think that we will see anything less than the very best that Peña has to offer, come October 5.

    “It’s amazing to listen to Juliana Peña’s coaches, to a man, talk about her relative meanness and nastiness. They can’t even get to the skills because Rick Little and Mike Valley both are just like dude, meanest man or woman in the gym, you know what I mean? So I don’t worry about her, I just think she’s sort of one of these ultimate competitors. The layoffs not ideal, the injury history is not ideal and Raquel Pennington just knows how to win fights.”

    Read also: Herb Dean Uses Dana White’s Contender Series Example To Explain ‘Let’s Work’ Calls During UFC 306 Main Event

  • ‘If Sean O’Malley Had Won…’ – Jon Anik’s Unique Argument To Defend Jon Jones In Pound-For-Pound Rankings

    ‘If Sean O’Malley Had Won…’ – Jon Anik’s Unique Argument To Defend Jon Jones In Pound-For-Pound Rankings

    Jon Jones last fought in the UFC in March 2023, when he submitted Ciryl Gane to win the promotion’s heavyweight title. Stipe Miocic was supposed to be his first title defense but a shoulder injury compelled the champion to take time off from training.

    While Jones has been inactive, Islam Makhachev has defended his UFC lightweight title twice and sits comfortably at the top of the company’s pound-for-pound rankings. The community is divided on the matter though, especially after Dana White bluntly dismissed the rankings and called Jones the undisputed pound-for-pound best fighter.

    Although Jon Anik believes Makhachev to be the P4P best, he might not be in favor of Jones being excluded from the rankings because of inactivity…

    Jon Anik Imagines How Sean O’Malley’s Pound-For-Pound Rank Would’ve Changed Due To Injury Like Jon Jones

    Anik recently appeared on the official MMAFightingonSBN YouTube channel to discuss all things UFC. When asked for his two cents on the endless P4P debate, the UFC commentator made a clear distinction between Jones being the greatest fighter of all time and Makhachev being the best skill-to-skill fighter in the world right now.

    “jon Jones is the greatest mixed martial arts athlete for me. Pound-for-pound in the world, today, I think it’s pretty consensus that Islam Makhachev is the guy. But yeah, when Jonny Jones is in an active competition cycle and given body of work, yeah, he’s the guy. But right now, Islam for me, is you know, skill-for-skill, and given activity, number one.”

    Anik was then informed about MMA Fighting’s criteria for removing fighters who haven’t competed in over 18 months from the P4P list. As a result, Jones is not even in their top 20 men’s pound-for-pound fighters, let alone fighting for the top spots.

    This is when one of UFC’s most familiar play-by-play voices brought up Sean O’Malley, who’ll be out of action because of requiring hip surgery. While not targeting MMA Fighting specifically, he suggested that it would’ve been interesting how MMA media would’ve handled O’Malley’s pound-for-pound rank had he beaten Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 and then taken a year or more to recover from the hip injury as the active champ.

    Anik also pointed out that the UFC bantamweight division is stacked with talented contenders, which would’ve made O’Malley’s case even more intriguing.

    “It really would’ve been interesting if Sean O’Malley had won and had to get his hip prepared, you know. And you don’t see him for a year, you know, because there’s so many 35ers but there’s a new world order and it’s Merab Dvalishvili. You know, and, exciting times buddy.”

  • Jon Anik Labels Noche UFC At The Sphere The ‘Sickest Sh*t’ He Has Ever Seen

    Jon Anik Labels Noche UFC At The Sphere The ‘Sickest Sh*t’ He Has Ever Seen

    Jon Anik is now hyped for Noche UFC after witnessing the impressive production quality of the upcoming pay-per-view event at The Sphere.

    UFC 306, known as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, is scheduled for September 14 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, in honor of Mexican Independence Day. The landmark event will represent a significant milestone for the promotion, as it will be the first time a sponsor secures the prestigious title partner status in UFC history.

    The fight card, stacked with a lineup of Mexican fighters, will feature two title bouts. In the main event, Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight crown against Merab Dvalishvili, while the co-main event will see Alexa Grasso put her UFC flyweight title on the line in a highly anticipated trilogy bout against Valentina Shevchenko.

    Noche UFC could be Dana White’s most extravagant venture yet, with the UFC CEO reportedly investing over $20 million to craft an unforgettable experience. The event is set to be the first-ever live sporting spectacle at The Sphere, a massive arena featuring stunning wraparound LED screens in 16K resolution and immersive sound technology.

    With cutting-edge audio and visual technology at its disposal, the UFC plans to deliver a groundbreaking production level at Noche UFC. Anik, having already caught a sneak peek, is buzzing with anticipation…

    Anik Blown Away by Noche UFC’s Spectacular Production At The Sphere

    Anik recently took to X to share a report from MMA Fighting, unveiling that the UFC, in partnership with ESPN, will premiere a series of six short films during Noche UFC, celebrating Mexico’s profound impact on combat sports.

    These 90-second vignettes, crafted to air between the main card fights, are helmed by acclaimed director Glenn Weiss, known for producing major live events like the Oscars and Emmys, with Carlos Lopez Estrada contributing his talents to bring the project to life.

    In another post, the UFC’s play-by-play commentator revealed that he got an exclusive preview of what the promotion has in store for their upcoming event, and he’s absolutely stunned by the sheer scale and brilliance of the production.

    “Earlier this week, I got my first look at some of the visual experiences for the UFC’s September 14th Sphere show,” Anik tweeted. “Maybe the sickest sh*t I’ve ever seen. This is the most involved, sophisticated live broadcast of which I’ve been a part. Gonna be absolutely nuts. #NocheUFC”

    The Sphere, located just off the iconic Las Vegas Strip behind the grand Venetian and Palazzo resorts, was brought to life by James L. Dolan, the owner of Madison Square Garden, in collaboration with the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Construction began in 2018 with a jaw-dropping $2.3 billion price tag.

    The venue’s LED exterior covers a massive 580,000 square feet, towering 366 feet tall and stretching 516 feet wide. Inside, an astonishing 167,000 individually amplified speakers fill the space, while the video wall boasts 173 million individual LED light nodes. The Sphere can accommodate 17,600 attendees for concerts, though the seating will be slightly reduced for Noche UFC, holding around 17,000 for the historic event.

  • Jon Anik Defends UFC Champion Against Ducking Allegations

    Jon Anik Defends UFC Champion Against Ducking Allegations

    There has been a lot of talk of late regarding who will be Belal Muhammad’s first title challenger, after winning the welterweight belt at UFC 304.

    The undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov is quite clearly the most deserving contender but there has been some debate over whether former champion Kamaru Usman should also be in the discussion.

    Rakhmonov recently said in an interview that he had already been offered the title shot for UFC 307, which takes place in Salt Lake City on October 5.

    He claims that Muhammad turned the fight down because he couldn’t make that turnaround, which isn’t surprising considering he fought five rounds at the end of July.

    A long-time supporter of the champion has come to his defense after some fans tried to accuse Muhammad of dodging what many believe will be a big challenge for him.

    Jon Anik Says That Belal Muhammad Isn’t Ducking Shavkat Rakhmonov, Explains Motivation Behind Potential Usman Fight

    In a series of posts on X, UFC commentator Jon Anik gave his thoughts on the current layout of the welterweight division.

    Anik stressed that Muhammad shouldn’t be criticized for talking about what would be a big fight against Usman and that he certainly isn’t trying to avoid Rakhmonov at the same time.

    “1) For his legacy, not at all surprising Belal Muhammad would want the chance to defend his title against one of the all-time welterweight greats in Kamaru Usman but the notion he is somehow trying to sidestep Shavkat Rakhmonov is straight fake news.”

    Anik then went on to explain how everyone, including the UFC, knows that Rakhmonov is the next rightful contender, stating that Muhammad’s willingness to fight the unbeaten contender isn’t a barrier in the way of making that fight happen.

    “2) Shavkat Rakhmonov is 18-0 w/ 18 finishes. 6-0 in the UFC. Whether he has the No. 3 or No. 1 ranking matters not. Most of us see him as the largely unquestioned, rightful, next title challenger. And I think the UFC concurs! But the champion ain’t the f*cking problem. Trust.”

    Read also: Demetrious Johnson Gives Stamp Of Approval To UFC Champion

  • Jon Anik Opens On Emotional Tribute To Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Father: ‘The Only Thing That Even Comes Close…’

    Jon Anik Opens On Emotional Tribute To Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Father: ‘The Only Thing That Even Comes Close…’

    There was a point in time where MMA fans questioned the UFC’s decision to have Jon Anik take over as the lead play-by-play commentator on the broadcasts, only for him to become an integral part of the promotion.

    Anik has been a part of so many incredible moments in the history of the sport but for “Big” John McCarthy, there’s one memory that stands out.

    McCarthy and Josh Thomson were joined by the modern-day voice of the UFC on the latest episode of their Weighing In podcast.

    During their conversation, the veteran referee wanted to highlight how one piece of work from Anik has always stuck with him since he first heard it.

    Anik delivered a tribute to the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov following his passing in 2020 which led to his son, Khabib Nurmagomedov, retiring on top of the sport.

    Jon Anik Reflects On Tribute For Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Reveals Whether Anything Tops It

    After McCarthy spoke about the level of emotion and heart that the commentator was able to put into this tribute as one of his finest moments on the mic, Anik spoke about the backstory of putting this together.

    When asked if there was anything in his career that tops this, he gave another example of a powerful piece of work like the tribute for Nurmagomedov, that he also gives a lot of credit to his producer at the time to.

    “Yes, I mean the only thing that even comes close and same producer no longer with the UFC, Mike Ricci now actually working for chess.com, and my daughters along with Daniel Cormier’s daughter got to do an Amanda Nunes essay. So it was those three girls doing it so it had nothing to do with me. I don’t know that anything could top that but man, yes, you’re giving me chills when you reference that poem, ‘a father to his son.’

    “I wish I remember what it was but oftentimes when we do an essay for a fighter, I might write it, I might have a ghost writer and then I might edit that script. In this case, it was this poem that was actually picked and I really had to find, and I appreciate you acknowledging the work because I am proud of it. I had to find, sort of a dulcet, melancholy, sad tone that was very, and it was voiced on this exact headset that you’re looking at right now in a hotel room probably like this so finding the right tone and sending that off, hoping that they would put it together in the right way, yes it was special and obviously it was to him [Khabib Nurmagomedov] but Mike Ricci really deserves all the credit.”

    Read also: Coach On Sean O’Malley Not Defending Title Against Umar Nurmagomedov: “If ‘Suga’ Just Faceplants Merab & Drops A ‘Hendo’ Bomb…”

  • UFC Commentator On People Underestimating Adesanya Ahead Of UFC 305: ‘Izzy’s Not The Type Of Beast I’d Want To Awaken…’

    UFC Commentator On People Underestimating Adesanya Ahead Of UFC 305: ‘Izzy’s Not The Type Of Beast I’d Want To Awaken…’

    Jon Anik recently cautioned fans not to undervalue Israel Adesanya ahead of his upcoming title fight against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.

    Adesanya is set to take on the reigning middleweight champion in the highly anticipated main event of the pay-per-view extravaganza, scheduled for August 17 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

    “The Last Stylebender” is gearing up for his Octagon return after an 11-month hiatus—the longest of his UFC career. After his title defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September, Adesanya took a voluntary break to concentrate on his mental well-being.

    Adesanya is currently navigating the most challenging stretch of his career since his unsuccessful attempt to capture the light heavyweight title against then-champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259. Following that setback, he endured his first middleweight defeat—a fifth-round TKO loss to his longtime rival Alex Pereira at UFC 281.

    In light of his recent performances, some MMA pundits have begun to question Adesanya’s ability to stand toe-to-toe with a formidable opponent like “Stillknocks”, with whom he’s shared a fierce rivalry for some time. However, Anik firmly believes that “The Last Stylebender’s” skills are beyond reproach and should not be doubted…

    Anik Suggests Adesanya’s Success Depends On Tempering Aggression Against Du Plessis

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Anik shared his excitement for the highly anticipated showdown between Du Plessis and Adesanya. The UFC play-by-play commentator emphasized that the simmering tension between the two fighters not only adds intrigue to the bout but also raises the stakes, making it a more challenging encounter for both competitors.

    “I can’t wait, right? If I gotta go from South Florida to Perth, Western Australia, 37 hours from door to door if you really want to know—thankfully, it’s for a main event of this magnitude,” Anik said. “I mean, Izzy’s not the type of beast that I’d want to awaken or add sort of extra fuel to, but at this level, I feel like these guys competitively make for a fascinating stylistic matchup, and they’ll bury the hatchet. If there’s a knockout, you know, maybe there’s some extra friction here, but I think it’s just two guys who have a lot of pride in where they’re from and who they are, and two guys who just aren’t going to back down.”

    Anik went on to say that although Adesanya is the premier striker in the middleweight division, he’ll need to rein in his assertive approach when facing “Stillknocks”, a dangerous power puncher. He added that the former UFC middleweight champion must be strategic in his offense to avoid getting caught by Du Plessis’ heavy hands.

    “I’m curious to what extent Izzy is going to not throw caution to the wind but sort of manage risk and manage aggression because he is maybe the best striker that I have ever seen in there, and a lot of people like this matchup for him. He is the betting favorite right now, increasingly so in those latter rounds. You know, how is he going to manage risk if the bout continues to just come at him? You know, that’s a big question mark for me. I think Izzy is going to be in prime form. I just think that this is a guy you really have to separate from consciousness, and I think if anybody’s capable of doing that, it’s Izzy.”

  • Jon Anik Differs From Dana White On Jon Jones’ Future: ‘If I Could Get A Betting Line On Jones vs. Aspinall Never F*cking Happening…’ 

    Jon Anik Differs From Dana White On Jon Jones’ Future: ‘If I Could Get A Betting Line On Jones vs. Aspinall Never F*cking Happening…’ 

    Unlike UFC CEO Dana White, Jon Anik isn’t confident that Jon Jones sticks around to fight interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

    Not many topics have remained at the surface of the mixed martial arts community in 2024 quite like the UFC’s heavyweight title picture, which currently boasts two champions but uncertainty regarding whether they will ever face each other.

    That problem arose after an injury to Jones late last year saw his planned defense against Stipe Miocic canceled and an interim titleholder crowned in his absence. And when Aspinall captured that belt, talk turned to a unification showdown.

    However, both Jones and the UFC have other plans, remaining firm on rearranging the Miocic fight for the Madison Square Garden event this November. In the meantime, Aspinall has recorded the first successful defense of his gold, knocking out Curtis Blaydes in quick time at UFC 304 last month.

    While the Brit — as well as plenty of fans and analysts — has expressed doubt over his dream fight with Jones reaching the Octagon, White recently predicted that the all-time great will delay a possible retirement should he defeat Miocic in order to face the challenge of Aspinall.

    But the man who would be tasked with calling that monumental heavyweight clash doesn’t have high hopes…

    Anik Doesn’t Share White’s Confidence On Jones vs. Miocic Coming To Fruition

    During the latest episode of his podcast alongside ex-fighter Kenny Florian, Anik gave his take on the current status of the championship conversation at heavyweight.

    The longtime play-by-play commentator shared White’s sentiment when it comes to Jones wanting to challenge himself against the division’s highly regarded interim champ. Anik doesn’t, however, believe that feeling will be stronger than the Rochester native’s desire to protect his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I would agree with Dana White in so far as that Jon Jones, if he beats Stipe Miocic, would want to challenge himself against someone like Tom Aspinall,” Anik said. “And what better way to put a capstone on your career as the consensus greatest MMA fighter of all time than to beat a guy in Tom Aspinall who is all the rage at present, and a guy who many forecast to be the greatest mixed martial arts heavyweight of all time. I think he wants the challenge — not at the expense of his legacy.

    “If he can beat Stipe Miocic as a -350 betting favorite and ride off into the Albuquerque sunset, I am expectant that that is what he is going to do,” Anik continued. “I know Dana and others have said they’d be surprised if Jon doesn’t bite off that Aspinall challenge if he beats Stipe. I would, with respect, go the other way. If I could get a betting line on Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall never f*cking happening, I would ask my wife if I could, you know, spend several figures on that.”

    For now, Jones appears to be ramping up his physical activity as he prepares to make his way back from injury later this year. What comes after a potential victory over the returning Miocic, however, remains to be seen.

  • Jon Anik Talks Difficulty Of Avoiding Bias While Commentating On ‘Family’ Belal Muhammad: ‘People Just Fixate Upon This…’

    Jon Anik Talks Difficulty Of Avoiding Bias While Commentating On ‘Family’ Belal Muhammad: ‘People Just Fixate Upon This…’

    Jon Anik recently opened up about the challenge of maintaining impartiality while commentating on the fights of his close friend, Belal Muhammad.

    Muhammad clinched a resounding unanimous decision victory over reigning UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards in their highly anticipated rematch last month at UFC 304 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

    Ever since “Remember the Name” ascended to the UFC 170-pound championship, Anik, who typically upholds a veneer of neutrality regarding UFC fighters, has been fervently expressive on social media.

    In a recent post on Instagram, Anik professed that his favorite aspect of the job is witnessing a title challenger triumph and rise to championship glory. When Muhammad achieved this milestone at UFC 304, the play-by-play commentator confessed that his bond with the Palestinian-American fighter, coupled with Muhammad’s grueling path to the title, made the victory exceptionally poignant for him.

    However, calling a fight involving a dear confidant presents Anik with a distinct array of professional difficulties in the commentary booth…

    Anik Explains He Separates Personal Bonds When Fighters Enter The Octagon

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Anik delved into the complexities of sustaining emotional equanimity and navigating personal affiliations when commentating on fights involving athletes he knows well, particularly Muhammad.

    The UFC broadcaster explained that once a fighter steps into the Octagon, he sets aside any personal relationships and strives to limit his commentary to what is necessary.

    “Well, they’re all different. I mean, certainly, when the athlete hits the tunnel, I try to remove a lot of that from the equation,” Anik said. “If you look at the way I was, ‘sucking Jan Blachowicz’s d*ck’ when he won the title, it’s not dissimilar to the way I’m celebrating Belal Muhammad now. I think people just fixate upon this because of his relationship with my twin brother. Yes, there’s a lot of personal connection there.

    Yes, Belal is like family, but once he hits that tunnel, that relationship is thrown out the window. This one just had a lot of interpersonal connections because of my twin brother, but I do believe I’m able to compartmentalize and throw those things out and objectively call these fights.”

    Anik went on to mention that if he ever makes any biased or unnecessary comments during fights, UFC executives on the production team promptly remind him of the impropriety.

    “You can be sure the day that I’m not able to do so, I’ll get a call from Craig Borsari, my boss, or Zach Candito, one of my other bosses, or Dana White will get word to me in an indirect way. So, word hasn’t come in yet. I stand by the call, as I do most of these, and I love both the athletes. Oftentimes, there’s a relationship on both sides of the fight, and that was certainly the case at UFC 304.”

    Anik and Muhammad developed a close rapport when he signed “Remember the Name” to his podcast network in 2020. Since then, Muhammad has co-hosted Remember the Show on YouTube alongside Jason Anik, the identical twin brother of the UFC commentator.

  • UFC Commentator Heaps Praise On Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘He’ll Be Favorite Against Sean Or Merab’

    UFC Commentator Heaps Praise On Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘He’ll Be Favorite Against Sean Or Merab’

    The biggest fight of Umar Nurmagomedov’s career led to his most impressive performance to date in the main event this past weekend.

    There’s been hype surrounding him for a long time now but in an opponent like Cory Sandhagen, he was facing his most skilled, dangerous, and experienced opponent.

    Nurmagomedov got his hand raised at the end of five rounds in Abu Dhabi and could have leapfrogged the rest of the division with this win.

    He may have been holding the #11-ranking in the division but the writing has been on the wall for some time now in terms of his ranking not reflecting his ability.

    UFC commentator Jon Anik believes that even with Sandhagen being his first big win, he would expect Nurmagomedov to be a betting favorite over the two men that are set to fight over the bantamweight title next month.

    Jon Anik Believes That Umar Nurmagomedov Will Be A Betting Favorite When He Fights For The Title

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Anik was asked about Nurmagomedov’s win and who he thinks he will end up fighting for the bantamweight title which is set to be contested between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, in September.

    The UFC commentator didn’t pick a winner in that fight for obvious reasons, but he did say that Nurmagomedov could be the oddsmakers pick in either match-up.

    He started by complimenting the undefeated contender both for his skills inside the Octagon and his conduct outside of it.

    “Umar is like one of the most impressive human beings, fighters, that I’ve met in any walk of life. His ability to connect with people in English already is insane relative to what it was like 24 months ago and he’s always banging on himself in terms of his ability to speak English. He’s fantastic. He’ll be favored against Sean or Merab, I feel pretty convicted in saying that. I just don’t think a lot of guys would be able to dominate Cory Sandhagen in that way. With respect to Cory, and my kids distracting me, I gave Umar all five rounds so impressed doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

    Judge Mike Bell agreed with Anik’s viewpoint, awarding all five rounds to Nurmagomedov on the scorecards whilst Ben Cartlidge and David Lethaby both gave Sandhagen one of the five.

    Read also: VIDEO: UFC Champ Sean O’Malley Reacts To ‘Close Fight’ Between Umar Nurmagomedov & Cory Sandhagen

  • Jon Anik Names Perfect Final Opponent For Tony Ferguson After He Half-Retires At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi: ‘That Fight Makes Some Sense’

    Jon Anik Names Perfect Final Opponent For Tony Ferguson After He Half-Retires At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi: ‘That Fight Makes Some Sense’

    It’s a hard pill to swallow, but Tony Ferguson has now lost eight fights in a row. Justin Gaethje broke his iconic 12-fight win streak in the UFC lightweight division and most recently, he lost to Michael Chiesa via submission at UFC Abu Dhabi.

    Ferguson was naturally overwhelmed by the loss but he didn’t lay down both his gloves in the Octagon. He was unsure about retirement and kept a glove just in case an exciting fight opportunity emerges.

    If he returns to the Octagon for one last ride, Jon Anik has the perfect opponent for Ferguson…

    Jon Anik Expects Tony Ferguson To Find Success Against Fellow UFC Lightweight Veteran Joe Lauzon

    Anik recently appeared on Submission Radio on YouTube and talked about Ferguson’s career as of late. He credited “El Cucuy” for making a double-digit win streak in a competitive division like lightweight, and admitted how the eight losses on this record baffle him.

    “The rainbow-colored nature of Tony Ferguson’s Wikipedia page, bro. I mean, it is indeed crazy to see 12 green stripes followed by eight red stripes.”

    Anik wants to see Ferguson in the UFC Hall of Fame as soon as possible. He isn’t keen on seeing the veteran fight again but suggested that Joe Lauzon could be a viable option for his upcoming and most likely, final, bout.

    “I was googling Joe Lauzon to make sure that he never fought Tony Ferguson because as I sit here and think about opponents that might make sense for Tony to try to realize some sort of success. Joe Lauzon still has fights left on his contract and for whatever reason, hasn’t competed, but I think that fight makes some sense”

    Lauzon made his debut in the UFC in 2006 and is a veteran with over 25 fights under his belt. He holds wins over Jens Pulver, Jeremy Stephens, Chiesa, and Diego Sanchez, among other notable lightweight fighters.

    The UFC commentator highlighted that Lauzon still has fights on his UFC contract. However, he hasn’t fought for the promotion since October 2019 so it’s hard to anticipate whether he would return for a bout with Ferguson.

    READ MORE: Tom Aspinall Questions UFC’s ‘Unfair’ Decision Not To Renew Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract

  • MMA News Today: UFC Commentator Feels Fans Watch Belal Muhammad Fights With ‘Tainted Eye’, UFC Featherweight Star Rants About ‘Corrupt’ Olympics, & More

    MMA News Today: UFC Commentator Feels Fans Watch Belal Muhammad Fights With ‘Tainted Eye’, UFC Featherweight Star Rants About ‘Corrupt’ Olympics, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 31, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Anik says fans are biased against Muhammad
    • Allen labels Olympic Games as corrupt
    • UFC veteran says Mokaev didn’t have a leg to stand on

    Jon Anik Says Fans Criticism Of UFC 304 Main Event Is Out Of Dislike For Belal Muhammad

    UFC commentator Jon Anik believes that some fans have been too critical of the UFC 304 main event, due to their dislike of Belal Muhammad.

    Whilst the majority of each round was spent with either Muhammad or Leon Edwards holding the other in a dominant position with little action, the momentum of the fight did swing back and forth at points.

    Anik said that to make it clear, he is a huge fan of both men because whilst he may be friends with the new champion, his career will always be tied to “Rocky” and his title reign.

    On the Anik & Florian Podcast recap of this past weekend’s event, he said that some were looking for a way to criticize Muhammad rather than praise him.

    “So I’m not sure what exactly we are looking for, I think a lot of people just watch Belal Muhammad with a tainted eye and that’s why I tweet, “cry”, right. I am a Leon Edwards fan as anyone knows, ‘Shabba Madda Pot’ is my favorite song.

    “My most significant call of my career is Leon Edwards, the favorite moment of my professional career is when Leon hugged me after the fact, six months later. But, it is time to put respect on the name Belal Muhammad.”

    Arnold Allen Criticizes The Paris Olympic Games Amidst Multiple Controversies

    The Paris Olympic Games are in full swing but this particular instalment has been defined by controversy from the very start.

    In a recent series of posts on social media, UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen voiced his opinions on how the event has become unwatchable over time.

    He may have been planning to spend some time this summer watching the games after returning to the win column this past weekend at UFC 304 but “Almighty” has had to tap out.

    Allen referred to Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde who qualified for this year’s games despite being convicted of child rape in 2016.

    Matt Brown Says The UFC Made The Right Call Regarding Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract Status

    UFC veteran Matt Brown weighed in with his thoughts on the recent UFC departure of undefeated flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev.

    Like many, he admitted that he was surprised at first given the ability and potential that “The Punisher” brings to the table.

    Brown was also able to identify why the UFC would want to walk away from resigning the fighter, if he’s causing issues behind the scenes.

    Crucially, he pointed out how Mokaev isn’t in a position where the juice is worth the squeeze given his profile in the sport and performances, compared to other controversial fighters on the roster.

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, “The Immortal” said that he understands the promotion’s call after what went down on fight week.

    “I’d probably cut him, too, to be honest,” Brown said. “It is surprising that they would do that, being that his ceiling is pretty freaking high. I’ve watched him fight before. The dude has really, really high ceiling. Young guy with a lot of skills, a lot of talent. But when you’re up and coming like that, you can’t just do that. I think the UFC has shown that before. When you’re an up and comer, you can’t be ruffling too many feathers. Obviously like some but you can’t be doing stupid sh*t like that.

    “Once you’re Jon Jones and you’re putting all those asses in the seats, yeah you get away with some sh*t. Because you’re in business with the UFC. You’re a partner essentially,” Brown continued. “Whereas how many people tune in to watch Muhammad Mokaev? When he goes and fights in PFL, how many people are going to tune in and watch Muhammad Mokaev? So there are double standards or triple standards or whatever. There is different standards for every fighter. He’s not at that level to be getting away with sh*t like that. I don’t know the story but that (sucker-punch) sounds like a cowardly b*tch move, and I wouldn’t want to be in business with someone like that either.”

    Read more on the story here.

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