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 […]

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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

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MMA News Today: Dan Hooker Reveals Israel Adesanya Has Bulked Up To 230 Pounds Ahead Of Dricus Du Plessis Fight, Jon Anik On Staying Impartial While Calling Friend Belal Muhammad’s Title Fight At UFC 304, & More

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 15, 2024, we’re taking a look at: Dan Hooker Says Israel Adesanya Is Hitting Too Hard For Them To Spar One Another When Israel Adesanya returns at UFC 305 to try and recapture the middleweight […]

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Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 15, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

  • Hooker says Adesanya sparring isn’t on his wish list right now
  • Anik never lets his relationships affect his commentary
  • Blaydes says he’s keeping things simple ahead of Aspinall rematch

Dan Hooker Says Israel Adesanya Is Hitting Too Hard For Them To Spar One Another

When Israel Adesanya returns at UFC 305 to try and recapture the middleweight title against Dricus Du Plessis, he will do so off the back of his longest break between fights since signing with the promotion.

“The Last Stylebender” decided to take some much-needed and well-earned time to regroup before jumping back inside the Octagon, following his loss to Sean Strickland.

In a recent interview with Submission Radio, his City Kickboxing teammate Dan Hooker spoke about how Adesanya has been bulking up outside of training camp.

The lightweight contender, who has sparred with the former middleweight champion for a long time, said that his fellow New Zealander is starting to pack too much of a punch for him to trade shots with.

“I can’t even be bothered sparring him at the moment like the way he’s hitting. I think he’s like 105 kilos [around 230 pounds], I’m just like f******, kicked me in the leg and I was like ‘get f*****!’. He’s had some time off, he was carrying some injuries, he spent a lot of time just packing on some size and like a lot of strength bro and he’s hitting like a truck man. I can’t even be bothered sparring him… like he’s hitting too hard.”

Jon Anik Says Relationship With Belal Muhammad Won’t Affect His UFC 304 Commentary

It’s only natural for UFC commentators to have relationships and friendships with some of the fighters that are signed to the roster.

This is especially difficult in a sport like MMA where the highs are so high and the lows are so low but Jon Anik always looks to separate his work from his personal feelings.

At UFC 304, Anik’s friend Belal Muhammad will finally get his first shot at welterweight gold when he challenges Leon Edwards on July 27.

Anik spoke in a recent interview with InsideFighting about how he always looks to serve the moment and both fighters as best as he can, regardless of whether he has personal connections to them.

“No, I feel like once the athlete hits the tunnel, any of those types of feeling or emotions go away. As I’ve said repeatedly, Dominick Cruz is probably the guy I’m closest to, I mean Belal’s obviously right there on his heels as are other athletes.

“you establish a lot of interpersonal relationship and you can’t help that but it certainly doesn’t affect the call. I can assure you and everybody else if Leon Edwards head kicks Belal Muhammad into oblivion, my call is going to reflect that and there was nothing hard about me screaming with veins popping out of my mouth, ‘Stipe gets his revenge’, even though he did it against Daniel Cormier.”

Curtis Blaydes Isn’t Adjusting His Approach For Fighting Tom Aspinall At UFC 304

In the co-main event in Manchester, Tom Aspinall’s interim heavyweight title will be on the line when he faces Curtis Blaydes in a rematch.

Blaydes, who is now a 22-fight veteran, has faced the majority of the top names at heavyweight at this stage.

He spoke in an interview with the media during this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Denver, about how his approach to this fight is the same as always.

Rather than working specifically on his opponent’s approach, Blaydes simply looks to bring the best version of himself to England in order to come away with the win.

“Conditioning (has been the focus in camp). That’s the same old,” Blaydes said. “I don’t adjust for anyone. I have prepared for this fight the same way I prepare for everyone. I don’t like to add extra adjustments, extra things to think about. There’s already a whole lot, we don’t need to add anything else.

“Just a normal, standard fight camp,” Blaydes continued. “Eight weeks of sparring, drilling, running, icing; normal stuff.”

Read more on the story here.

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Jon Anik: Celebrated Former UFC Champion Is ‘First Guy That Comes To Mind’ When Discussing Fighters Who Will Never Be Replicated

Jon Anik recently remarked that Khabib Nurmagomedov reigns supreme in the world of combat sports as a truly irreplaceable fighter, citing the former UFC lightweight champion’s unparalleled fighting style and unyielding mindset. “The Eagle” soared through the annals of UFC history with a career that was nothing short of extraordinary. Widely regarded as arguably the […]

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Jon Anik recently remarked that Khabib Nurmagomedov reigns supreme in the world of combat sports as a truly irreplaceable fighter, citing the former UFC lightweight champion’s unparalleled fighting style and unyielding mindset.

“The Eagle” soared through the annals of UFC history with a career that was nothing short of extraordinary. Widely regarded as arguably the greatest MMA grappler ever, his legacy is cemented by an impeccable fight record that speaks volumes to his unmatched Octagon prowess.

In the MMA world, few fighters epitomize universal admiration quite like Nurmagomedov. The 35-year-old Dagestani announced his retirement from active competition after a decisive second-round submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020.

Despite stepping away from the Octagon, Nurmagomedov continues to captivate a legion of die-hard fans and remains a constant presence on every list of GOAT MMA fighters. UFC play-by-play commentator Anik firmly believes that “The Eagle” is truly one of a kind…

Anik Confident No One Can Rival Nurmagomedov’s Mentality

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Anik was posed the question of which fighter’s greatness is irreplaceable. The 46-year-old UFC broadcaster responded by highlighting Nurmagomedov, praising his unparalleled combat technique and indomitable spirit as qualities no other fighter could ever match.

“I think Khabib Nurmagomedov had a uniqueness to him,” Anik said. “And I think a lot of that is rooted in his mentality, but even just in terms of not wanting to maybe hurt Justin Gaethje or the way he would talk to his opponents in a different way than Kevin Holland would.”

Anik further noted that while many former UFC champions, such as Daniel Cormier, Demetrious Johnson, and Dominick Cruz, possessed their own distinctive and superior fighting attributes, none could compare to the exceptional prowess of “The Eagle”.

“My guy Daniel Cormier, I think, is supremely underrated in terms of his ability to inflict and impose his wrestling and his rear naked choke on really world-class fighters. But I guess Khabib’s that comes to mind… All roads eventually for me lead to Khabib.”

Nurmagomedov now devotes his time to mentoring the next generation of fighters and is frequently seen training with his close friend and reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.

However, the UFC Hall of Famer is reportedly under scrutiny by the Russian Federal Tax Services for allegations of over $3 million in tax fraud.

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MMA News Today: Former UFC Middleweight On How He Defeated Opponent Using Technique Learned From Hollywood Star Michael Jai White, Tom Aspinall’s Training Partner Outlines Potential Issue For Alex Pereira If He Moves To Heavyweight, & More

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 11, 2024, we’re taking a look at: Uriah Hall Says Michael Jai White Deserves Credit For His Finish Over Gegard Mousasi Back in 2015, UFC middleweight Uriah Hall secured one of his greatest ever wins […]

Continue Reading MMA News Today: Former UFC Middleweight On How He Defeated Opponent Using Technique Learned From Hollywood Star Michael Jai White, Tom Aspinall’s Training Partner Outlines Potential Issue For Alex Pereira If He Moves To Heavyweight, & More at MMA News.

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 11, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

  • Hall tells interesting story behind highlight reel finish
  • Parkin says Pereira may struggle with bigger grapplers
  • Anik suggests Poirier vs Diaz

Uriah Hall Says Michael Jai White Deserves Credit For His Finish Over Gegard Mousasi

Back in 2015, UFC middleweight Uriah Hall secured one of his greatest ever wins when he stopped Gegard Mousasi in Japan.

Hall spoke about the way he was able to secure this second-round finish during a recent episode of the Jaxxon Podcast, where he revealed an interesting story behind this win.

He stated that when watching Mousasi’s previous fight with Lyoto Machida, he noticed a tell where the Dutchman dipped his head whenever Machida feinted with his hips.

Hall then combined this with a technique that he learned during his final preparations that came courtesy of Hollywood star Michael Jai White.

“Two weeks before that fight, I was hanging out with Michael Jai White, that m*********** is legit by the way, and he was showing me how to throw techniques without no fat, no tell, no telegraph. It was the hardest s*** ever, I’m still working on some of it. He was showing me the spinning back kick and I think I was this close to him and he was like, ‘You can do it from here’ and I was like what?! He showed me how to move my body that way so when I did that jump spinning back kick, I took away the fat a little bit because I expected him to move a certain way and it just lined up perfectly.”

UFC Heavyweight Mick Parkin Says Alex Pereira May Struggle At Heavyweights With Keeping Opponents Off Him

Following another defense of his UFC light heavyweight title, fans want to see whether Alex Pereira can move up another weight class to try and win a third title.

“Poatan” went from middleweight up to 205-pounds seamlessly and with his ferocious power, he clearly has the ability to put anyone out cold.

Heavyweight contender Mick Parkin believes that Pereira may encounter one issue if he does decide to compete with the big boys on the roster.

Parkin, who regularly trains alongside the interim champion Tom Aspinall, is looking to match the longest active win streak in the division when he returns at UFC 304.

He spoke in a recent interview with Violent Money TV about how despite Pereira’s improving grappling defense, this could become an issue for him against larger opponents.

“It’s a lot different, the size. I think he’s amazing, he just keeps taking these fights and knocking everybody out. He hits so hard that he could definitely hit as hard at heavyweight and knock any heavyweight out in the world. His defensive wrestling is actually looking good but with a bigger guy it’s a lot harder so it might be a bit harder for him to get a bigger guy off on top of him. He might come up and get huge, he’s still got a big frame for it.

“But yeah, the bigger guys, I don’t know if he’s that confident as well that he would just walk the big guys down and think I’m knocking you out or if he’d be a bit more, ‘oh I don’t want to get taken down by these guys’. I don’t know how his mindset is but I definitely feel he could do good.”    

Jon Anik Believes That Nate Diaz Makes A Lot Of Sense For Dustin Poirier’s Farewell Fight

There aren’t too many options out there right now that make sense for Dustin Poirier following his lightweight title fight loss at UFC 302.

“The Diamond” recently said that he was leaning towards this being his last outing because at this stage, what is he fighting for if he isn’t trying to become the champion.

One match-up that UFC commentator Jon Anik believes would be a great way to close out his career is one of the few big names in and around his weight class that Poirier is yet to face.

He was booked to fight Nate Diaz in what would have been a massive fight at Madison Square Garden back in 2018 but it never took place due to Poirier withdrawing due to an injury.

Anik spoke in an interview with MMA Junkie about how following Diaz’s win over Jorge Masvidal in boxing, now could be the perfect time to put them back together.

“Nate Diaz is a massive superstar and that is among a myriad of reasons why Dustin Poirier is of an appetitive nature for that particular fight and match-up and part of the reason we talked about this in context was not just Nate Diaz suggesting that he wants to come back to the UFC and pursue a championship but also because I was with Dustin Poirier recently and there aren’t that many fights that make sense for him and even some of the match-ups that have been suggested have some relative downside.”

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Jon Anik Maintains Conor McGregor Has ‘An Itch That Can Only Be Scratched In The Octagon’ Amid UFC Return Uncertainty

UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has reiterated his belief that Conor McGregor’s time competing in mixed martial arts is not yet up. As has been the case for the best part of a year and a half since his comeback was first announced, considerable uncertainty surrounds the career status of McGregor, the promotion’s first-ever simultaneous […]

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UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has reiterated his belief that Conor McGregor’s time competing in mixed martial arts is not yet up.

As has been the case for the best part of a year and a half since his comeback was first announced, considerable uncertainty surrounds the career status of McGregor, the promotion’s first-ever simultaneous two-division champion.

The Irishman has struggled for both activity and positive results since he achieved that feat in 2016, going 1-3 across four fights in over seven years. The manner of his most recent setback — a gruesome broken leg suffered in the first round of his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021 — left many suggesting the Irishman had entered the cage for the last time.

Those theories continued throughout 2023 when no news came on his planned fight against Michael Chandler following their stint as opposition coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. And while the bout was eventually set for UFC 303 last month, a toe injury led to McGregor’s withdrawal on late notice.

That’s once again brought about claims that McGregor is unlikely to make the walk again. Anik, however, has remained firm on his belief that the Irishman has an itch that must be scratched inside the cage…

Anik Doubles Down On McGregor Return Prediction

During a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, Anik gave his thoughts on the uncertainty around McGregor’s long-awaited comeback, having previously predicted the Dubliner to rattle of consecutive fights in short time upon his return.

The UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator reiterated that stance, explaining that factors outside of the cage such as wealth and material goods that some use to dismiss his motivation to compete would be more enjoyable for McGregor after additional Octagon assignments.

“I guess I’m frustrated. That’s probably the right verb when it comes to some of Conor McGregor’s inactivity. But largely, I think a lot of this has been out of his control,” Anik said. “It’s not always easy being the biggest superstar in mixed martial arts. It certainly isn’t easy when you snap your leg in half, you know? And then obviously he had a setback in this most recent training camp.

“I’ve gotta stay consistent in terms of my thesis statement on Conor. It’s that he’s going to enjoy the yacht life a whole lot more with a couple more MMA scalps, or at the very least fights, high-profile fights,” Anik continued. “He came back and fought Dustin back-to-back, right, and then snapped his leg in two. I still believe that there’s an itch that can only be scratched in the Octagon for Conor McGregor.”

It remains to be seen whether or not McGregor will prove Anik’s remarks true later this year. But his recent return to “yacht life” on social media following the UFC 303 cancellation has seemingly left some fans fearing the worst…

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Jon Anik Names First-Time Opponent That ‘Makes Sense’ For Nate Diaz’s Planned UFC Return

Should Nate Diaz follow through on his publicly expressed desire to make a UFC return, Jon Anik has the ideal opponent in mind for him. Diaz was back in combat sports action this past weekend for the first time in 11 months. Having fallen short in his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul last August, […]

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Should Nate Diaz follow through on his publicly expressed desire to make a UFC return, Jon Anik has the ideal opponent in mind for him.

Diaz was back in combat sports action this past weekend for the first time in 11 months. Having fallen short in his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul last August, the Stockton star ran it back in the ring with ex-UFC rival Jorge Masvidal.

In addition to his first triumph in the ring, Diaz was looking to avenge the setback he was given at the hands of “Gamebred” back in 2019 when Madison Square Garden hosted the inaugural BMF title fight.

On that occasion, Masvidal was rewarded for his dominance on the feet with a TKO by way of doctor’s stoppage. After Saturday’s match at Anaheim’s Honda Center, that result remains the Miami native’s most recent win.

After a competitive 10 rounds on July 6, Diaz was awarded the victory via majority decision. Masvidal was quick to call for a trilogy to take place in a neutral location, but it would appear that the Stockton native has other plans.

And in addition to a second dance with Paul, that seemingly includes unfinished business on MMA’s biggest stage…

Anik Says Diaz Has ‘A Lot Of Fight’ Left, Pitches UFC Return Opponent

During the latest episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast, the UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator reacted to Diaz’s first victory inside the boxing ring this past weekend.

Anik noted that Diaz once again highlighted a UFC return as part of his plans down the line, and he insisted that in spite of the veteran fighter’s age and stint away from MMA competition, he can never be counted out against elite opposition.

“Nate Diaz back in the UFC. I don’t know to what extent that is possible in short order, but it’s very encouraging that that is one of the first things sort of on the tip of his tongue,” Anik said. “And far be it for anyone to bet against this guy in a high-profile setting against an elite fighter. Yeah, there’s certain matchups, right? Maybe you don’t like him against Sean Brady, but there are plenty of matchups that are good for Nate Diaz. … I think he’s got a lot of fight left.”

The Boston native went on to point out one specific matchup that would make sense for Diaz’s potential Octagon comeback: a rearranged showdown with Dustin Poirier.

“Dustin Poirier and I were talking at UFC 303 as he was there doing the television work. There just aren’t that many fights right now for Dustin. It seems like he has the appetite to go out on a win,” Anik continued. “Dustin has intimated that he wants to fight one more time, and on the very short list of opponents that actually makes some fiscal and competitive sense is Nate Diaz. We’ll see if that’s something that actually materializes.”

Poirier and Diaz were set to share the cage back at UFC 230 in 2018, but “The Diamond” was forced out after sustaining a hip injury.

Interestingly, rumors of the pair giving the matchup a second attempt emerged the last time Poirier’s future appeared uncertain. In the aftermath of his title loss against Charles Oliveira in December 2021, the Louisianan pointed to Diaz as the only opponent that appealed to him at the time.

The former interim champion instead defeated Michael Chandler in his return, and after bouncing back from a defeat to Justin Gaethje last July by knocking out Benoît Saint Denis, he received his third shot at the undisputed belt.

When Islam Makhachev got the better of him at UFC 302 last month, it seemed that retirement was a real possibility. But a number of weeks on from his latest failed attempt at ticking off the final box in his career, “The Diamond” has picked up hints of another go at the kind of farewell he is after.

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