The much-anticipated UFC 271 pay-per-view event will see the reappearance of Joe Rogan within the commentary box. It has been confirmed that veteran voice of the octagon, Jon Anik in addition to former two-division champ Daniel Cormier, will be alongside Rogan at Saturday’s UFC 271 in Houston, Texas. This will be the fourth consecutive PPV […]
The much-anticipated UFC 271 pay-per-view event will see the reappearance of Joe Rogan within the commentary box.
It has been confirmed that veteran voice of the octagon, Jon Anik in addition to former two-division champ Daniel Cormier, will be alongside Rogan at Saturday’s UFC 271 in Houston, Texas.
This will be the fourth consecutive PPV event to feature, fan favourite, and one of the world’s best-known podcast hosts.
This all comes notwithstanding, Joe Rogan finding himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after he was accused of spreading controversial information about COVID-19 on his show, as well as issuing an apology video, after a video suffered of him repeatedly using a particular racial slur whilst on his podcast show.
How does UFC commentator Jon Anik, see the main-event playing out?
The promotions headliner of the event will see the middleweight rematch between Israel Adesanya (21-1 MMA) and Robert Whittaker (24-5 MMA). In a fight where commentator Jon Anik stated on the ‘Anik & Florian Podcast‘ that he believes that the fight will stay standing, despite Whittaker hinting at new gameplan for ‘The Last Stylebender’.
“I expect a better and more disciplined attempt from Whittaker… I do think that Whittaker will try and mix it up, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see if it ends up being a kickboxing match and an absolute war on the feet.”
Are you happy to hear Joe Rogan, Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier are on commentary duty at UFC 271?
UFC commentator Jon Anik has serious doubts regarding Jake Paul’s aspirations of fighting in the UFC. Paul is coming off of an eventful 2021 in which he continued his undefeated boxing career. He earned back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley after knocking out former welterweight Ben Askren in a matter of seconds. Paul […]
UFC commentator Jon Anik has serious doubts regarding Jake Paul’s aspirations of fighting in the UFC.
Paul is coming off of an eventful 2021 in which he continued his undefeated boxing career. He earned back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley after knocking out former welterweight Ben Askren in a matter of seconds.
Paul has recently alluded to transitioning to MMA at some point in time and more specifically fighting in the UFC. He’s challenged UFC President Dana White to sign him to a one-fight deal if White agrees to make changes to fighter pay and other components of the promotion.
But Anik isn’t so sure that Paul is serious in his alleged desire to fight on MMA’s biggest platform. During a recent interview with DAZN, Anik compared Paul’s aim to fight in the UFC to that of professional wrestler and former UFC fighter CM Punk.
“I just don’t think that he wants to scratch that competitive itch,” Anik said of Paul. “I think he is legitimately passionate about boxing. CM Punk, for lack of a better example, he needed to scratch that itch. It didn’t go the way he wanted it to. It didn’t go the way he thought it would. But he needed that for his own peace of mind. I think Jake Paul needed that in boxing.
“But Jake Paul’s not going to have a better retirement or enjoy any part of his life by scratching that MMA itch. I don’t think that he wants to devote his training life the way he’d need to become a mixed martial arts athlete. I don’t think we see Jake Paul in the UFC. But if we do, hopefully, the matchmaking is done in an appropriate way.”
Punk, otherwise known as Phil Brooks, fought for the UFC in 2016 and 2018. White and the UFC brass gave him an opportunity to compete in the promotion despite little MMA experience, losing to Mickey Gall at UFC 203 and a no-contest against Mike Jackson at UFC 225.
Punk has returned to professional wrestling via AEW and remains a commentator for Cage Fury Fighting Championships. As for Paul, he remains at odds with White and the UFC as he works his way back to a boxing return later this year.
Do you think Jake Paul will ever fight in the UFC?
The broadcast team for the year’s first pay-per-view in Anaheim, California has been confirmed and it will feature a few familiar faces. After missing four numbered events last year, Joe Rogan will again be tasked with color commentary duties at UFC 270 for what will be his third consecutive show. The popular podcast host will […]
The broadcast team for the year’s first pay-per-view in Anaheim, California has been confirmed and it will feature a few familiar faces.
After missing four numbered events last year, Joe Rogan will again be tasked with color commentary duties at UFC 270 for what will be his third consecutive show. The popular podcast host will be joined by Daniel Cormier while of course, long-time UFC play-by-play analyst Jon Anik will take you through the action as it unfolds.
Rogan was in the booth for both UFC 268 and UFC 269 to cap off a strong 2021 as well as UFC 260 last March in the UFC Apex. This was the event that Francis Ngannou defeated Stipe Miocic to capture his first heavyweight title, his most recent appearance in the octagon.
Ngannou is set to make the first defense of his belt this weekend in a marquee matchup with rival and former training partner, Ciryl Gane. Rogan has never called one of Gane’s fights before but he has made it known that he’s been admiring the French Prince’s skills from afar.
Joe Rogan Says Gane Is Best Moving Heavyweight Of All Time
Gane is coming off a big win over Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 where he laid claim to interim gold. Anik and Cormier were joined by Dominick Cruz for this event as Rogan had prior commitments with his North American comedy tour.
The team will be rounded out by Megan Olivi who will fulfill reporting duties live from the Honda Centre while Michael Bisping and Anthony Smith will take care of pre and post-fight analysis shows from the desk.
Do you think Joe Rogan, Jon Anik, and DC are the all-star commentary team for the UFC?
Renowned MMA voice and UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has revealed the biggest question he wants answered in the promotion this year.
MMA’s premier organization had a host of memorable moments in 2021. From the return of fans and memorable k…
Renowned MMA voice and UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has revealed the biggest question he wants answered in the promotion this year.
MMA’s premier organization had a host of memorable moments in 2021. From the return of fans and memorable knockout wins for Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas at UFC 261, to the remarkable championship wins for 42-year-old Glover Teixeira and underdog Julianna Peña in the final quarter, last year certainly delivered in droves.
One constant over the top of each pay-per-view moment and occasional UFC Fight Night classic was the voice of Jon Anik. Not only has the Boston native become a fan favorite in the sport, but he’s also established himself as one of the hardest-working and knowledgeable personalities involved in MMA.
With that in mind, not many are better placed to discuss the upcoming year for the UFC. During a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Anik was asked for his “burning” question heading into another 12 months of competitive and enthralling action inside the Octagon.
His answer centered around one man: Khamzat Chimaev.
“I mean, people bang on me and Dana [White] because they think there’s some agenda with Khamzat Chimaev. We’re just going by what we’ve seen with our own eyes. My big question was how many times could he make 170 pounds? Was he long for this division? And, even though the [UFC 267] weight cut was a little bit dicey, I have more conviction now in his ability to make the weight than I did before. I just do.
“It seems like his coaches have him of a singular mind that he’s chasing welterweight contention and not gonna be dicking around at middleweight. So yeah, my burning question is: Is Khamzat Chimaev as elite he seems to be? As strong and dangerous as he seems to be? And can he work himself into a fight with a guy in Kamaru Usman who is something like 15-0 in the UFC and one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of all time? That’s sort of at the tip of my tongue right now.”
Chimaev Broke Back Onto The Scene In 2021
Jon Anik’s answer is understandable. Chimaev is one of the most exciting and talked-about rising stars in the UFC today.
“Borz” immediately made an impact when he debuted in 2020. With a perfect 3-0 record and a trio of triumphs recorded in the space of just 66 days and across two weight classes, many branded Chimaev the breakthrough fighter of the year.
After a battle with COVID-19 saw multiple bookings with top contender Leon Edwards fall through, and even brought up thoughts of retirement, Chimaev’s rapid surge was stalled. But he certainly hit the accelerator when he returned to the cage late last year.
At UFC 267, the Chechen-born Swede faced ranked contender Li Jingliang. Having committed to a title charge at welterweight, the clash with “The Leech” represented his first step towards contention. Not only did he extend his unbeaten record, Chimaev brutally choked out a tough opponent and established himself as a threat to the 170-pound top 10.
While Chimaev’s next step is unclear, 2022 is set to be a huge year for him. Like Jon Anik said, the next 12 months will define whether the hype surrounding “Borz” is for good reason.
Whether it’s Gilbert Burns, Belal Muhammad, or even Colby Covington, Chimaev’s next Octagon outing will be crucial in defining his place in the UFC. Should he emerge victorious, we’ll likely see him challenge for gold before 2022 is out.
What do you think is the most intriguing question in the UFC this year? Do you agree with Jon Anik?
Joe Rogan has been the UFC’s color commentator for more than two decades. The last time we saw Rogan at a UFC fight was on UFC 256 main card (December 2020). Nowadays, he is one of the biggest faces in podcasting and comedy. This along with the fact he has been in UFC for so […]
Joe Rogan has been the UFC’s color commentator for more than two decades. The last time we saw Rogan at a UFC fight was on UFC 256 main card (December 2020). Nowadays, he is one of the biggest faces in podcasting and comedy. This along with the fact he has been in UFC for so long makes him prone to criticism, like any other mediatic figure. He commentates any US fight and typically Jon Anik is sitting next to him as the UFC’s lead play-by-play voice. They are usually joined by well as another color commentator such as former dual weight champion Daniel Cormier or bantamweight legend Dominick Cruz.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Anik admitted he sees the online critics after UFC events, he said.
“Sometimes it’s hard for me to assess the totality of a broadcast right after the fact. And really, I would need to, not unlike a fan or media member, go back and fine-tooth comb the thing to address specific criticisms. I can tell you that for me, I do try to take that constructive criticism and employ it in the next show. I mean, for all the noise that’s out there, there is certainly some constructive stuff that I think you can take to the next show.”
Rogan has been a particular target for some fans lately. Anik is aware of this too and looked to defend his colleague, he said.
“I have seen some of that [criticism]. I think that the social media space after these live events can be a tough place for us to sort of engage and habitat. But I think for Joe, there are a lot of different factors. I think he is never been happier in that broadcast booth. And I hate to put words in his mouth, but I really think he enjoys the dynamic. He was in a two-man booth forever, where he was just working with a play-by-play guy, he couldn’t bounce off of a fighter.”
“I think it’s been an adjustment for all of us,” Anik added. “I mean, my job, as I’ve said to you is a totally different thing in a three-man booth versus a two-man booth in terms of the real estate that I have, in terms of what is asked of me. But no broadcast is the same. And I can assure you big picture like we do look at everything that people say, and we ain’t trying to get worse like we’re trying to get better.” (Transcribed by Heavy.com)
Ever since the announcement of ‘Fight Island‘ following the cancellation of UFC 249 on April 18th, many UFC fans and athletes have been dying for more info. Where is the Island? When will it be ready? Can I fight? In an interview with Jon Anik on ESPN, Dana gave us all a much needed update […]
Ever since the announcement of ‘Fight Island‘ following the cancellation of UFC 249 on April 18th, many UFC fans and athletes have been dying for more info. Where is the Island? When will it be ready? Can I fight?
In an interview with Jon Anik on ESPN, Dana gave us all a much needed update on the current status of ‘Fight Island’ stating that the Island will most likely be ready for events from June. Ever since the coronavirus outbreak, Dana White has been moving heaven and hell to keep sports entertainment going. This ultimately led to Dana and UFC co-owner Ari Emanuel purchasing a private island where they could host UFC events.
The island would not only allow athletes to compete without any risk of contracting the virus but would also have training facilities much like the UFC Performance Institute. This would allow the athletes to train and do their weight cut on the island, making the process as efficient and practical as possible. (H/T Mmafighting.com)
Until this Friday, this was all the information we had surrounding ‘Fight Island’ forcing Anik to ask the question that’s been on everyone’s lips…
“Where is ‘Fight Island’?”
“Literally this morning I was driving to work and I was talking to Ari and Ari goes ‘how many people a day ask you where ‘Fight Island’ is?’ cause I guess people are blowing him up asking him where ‘Fight Island’ is,” White answered. “People are very intrigued about ‘Fight Island’ and I’m excited for it.
“Right now, we’re looking at June and we’re literally going to knock out three or four fights there in a month. I’m going to stay on the island for a month. I’m going to go stay there. I’ll probably be there the whole month of July.”
With there not being any official cards announced for June other than that of UFC 250 (set to take place in Los Vegas on the 6th June), many are suggesting that a potential flyweight match up between Paige VanZant and Amanda Ribas could be one of the many fights that’ll take place on ‘Fight Island’.
Well, with the recent success of the three Jacksonville fight nights, I think it’s safe to say, we are all hungry for more fights.
Who would most like to see compete on ‘Fight Island’?