Tag: UFC 297

Sean Strickland’s coach hints live betting odds affected coaching advice ahead of UFC 297 title fight loss

Sean Strickland's coach claims live betting may have affected corner advice in UFC 297 title lossSean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick breaks down his judging during Strickland’s title fight against Dricus Du Plessis.  The UFC…

Sean Strickland's coach claims live betting may have affected corner advice in UFC 297 title loss

Sean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick breaks down his judging during Strickland’s title fight against Dricus Du Plessis. 

The UFC 297 main event between Du Plessis and Strickland ended in a bloody and completive five rounds. Du Plessis would end up having his hand raised and while some agreed, there was a large portion of fans who believe Strickland should have retained his title. 

Strickland would put out a statement believing that he had won the fight, which in fairness was incredibly close. 

Eric Nicksick reveals live betting odds could have swayed advice to Sean Strickland

Appearing on The Anik & Florian Podcast, Nicksick discussed the judging of the fight and revealed that the live odds could have swayed him into believing Sean Strickland had won rounds one and two.

“I initially thought we won rounds one and two,” Nicksick revealed. “Two being close, I didn’t know how they were going to score the takedowns, but I gotta admit, like, what kind of messed me up was I looked down at the apron, and they show the live odds, like the graphic on the- so I looked down and I saw, you know, we were -200 after the first round, minus -325 after the second round. I might be wrong, but I remember seeing the odds being in our favour.” (H/T MMA News)

“I’m like ‘Okay, so, if there’s people in the world that know what they saw, it’s people with money on it,” Nicksick continued. “You would think, So it reiterated my thoughts that we won round one and two. Again, this is MMA, it could change at any moment.”

Nicksick is a straight shooter, and while he cares for his fighters out of Xtreme Couture the 44-year-old is logical and honest. It’s commendable to see Nicksick discuss this kind of thing and show what makes him such a successful coach. 

It’s not clear what exactly Strickland will do next but a rematch does not seem out of the question. 

How did you score Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis?

UFC commentator Jon Anik issues public apology after calling out fans, suggesting retirement: ‘To whom I offended, I’m sorry’

Jon Anik issues public apology after criticizing UFC fans threatening to retire from commentaryUFC commentator Jon Anik issues a public apology after comments about the MMA fan base Earlier this week Anik…

Jon Anik issues public apology after criticizing UFC fans threatening to retire from commentary

UFC commentator Jon Anik issues a public apology after comments about the MMA fan base

Earlier this week Anik shocked fans when he revealed that his time in the UFC may be coming to an end after seeing their ‘malice and disrespect’ from MMA fans. The 45-year-old seemed upset discussing the toxic nature of some of the fanbase and labelled them the ‘lowest common denominator’.

This came after Jon Anik stated that he believed Dricus Du Plessis beat Sean Strickland in their UFC 297 fight and some fans called foul.  Strickland has quickly gained a large fanbase who were not pleased with the decision itself and Anik’s comments following. 

Jon Anik releases apology on his social media

Taking to his Instagram, the generally well-liked Anik issued an apology for his comments. 

“Last week on my podcast, I was in a heightened emotional state following myriad allegations of bias at UFC 297 and I made some regrettable comments relating to the MMA fan base. While I was surprised at the extent to which my comments were re-purposed and sensationalized, I need to be more responsible on an open microphone. So much work foes into the execution of just one UFC pay-per-view so it can be tough when my integrity is called into question.”

“That doesn’t excuse my retort. I am just a fiery, passionate, flawed, empathetic guy and sometimes my emotions lead the dance. To those MMA fans whom I’ve offended, I am sorry. That was not my intention. For 12 years, I’ve prided myself on being accessible to the fan base and that will continue. I’ve learned a lot over the last 48 hous. On to Anaheim.”

Losing Anik would be a major hit for the UFC and the audience, he is a highly talented play-by-play commentator and seems to have real passion for the sport. No one ever has anything bad thing to say about Anik and is well respected by both his UFC colleagues and the fighters. 

What do you make of the Jon Anik situation? 

Sean Strickland urges Jon Anik to retire from UFC commentary: ‘Maybe the NFL would be a better choice for you’

Sean Strickland urges Jon Anik to retire from UFC commentary maybe go to the NFLAmid claims from long-time UFC play-by-play lead, Jon Anik that he may call time on his tenure as the…

Sean Strickland urges Jon Anik to retire from UFC commentary maybe go to the NFL

Amid claims from long-time UFC play-by-play lead, Jon Anik that he may call time on his tenure as the promotion’s head commentator amid the influx of “malic” and rhetoric from a section of the mixed martial arts community, former middleweight champion, Sean Strickland has urged him to do just that.

Anik, a long-time play-by-play commentator for the promotion, who assumed lead role with the UFC following the departure of former lead, Mike Goldberg at the end of 2016, called the action in Strickland’s title fight loss to newly-minted gold holder, Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 earlier this month.

And sharing his thoughts on the recent influx of negativity and rhetoric spouting fans into the sport amid Strickland’s title fight loss to du Plessis, Anik claimed he was weighing up the prospect of exiting the promotion as a play-by-play commentator in the near future.

“Even if you and I [Kenny Florian] thought Dricus du Plessis won the fight, we try to present that information respectfully,” Jon Anik said. “And when I go onto X, or I go to our YouTube comments, it seems like a lot of these fans are just in attack mode, and I don’t know if these fans are casual fans or not, right?

“I appreciate the passion, but I’m getting to a point where I’m 45 years of age where I don’t know how much time I have left in this MMA space because if I go do pro-football like I’m not necessarily gonna be dealing with this lowest common denominator all the time, and I don’t know man, I just feel like there’s a lot of malice and disrespect from the fanbase,” Jon Anik explained.

Sean Strickland urges Jon Anik to retire from UFC commentary

And sharing his thoughts on Anik’s comments following his title fight defeat to Pretoria native, du Plessis – Strickland claimed the former should just go and commentate for the NFL, before backing his fans.

“What I’d say to Jon Anik calling MMA fans, ‘the lowest common denominator,” Sean Strickland posted on his official X account. “These people are way (sic) you have a paycheck, and you make way more than most. …Maybe the NFL is a better choice for you than MMA. …Also, you guys are a brunch of savage c*nts. I’m here for it….”

What are your thoughts on Sean Strickland’s comments on Jon Anik?

Dricus du Plessis accuses Sean Strickland of admitting UFC 297 title fight loss: ‘You definitely beat me’

Dricus du Plessis accuses Sean Strickland of admitting UFC 297 loss you definitely beat meNewly-minted undisputed middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis claims recent foe, Sean Strickland actually admitted he was beaten in the…

Dricus du Plessis accuses Sean Strickland of admitting UFC 297 loss you definitely beat me

Newly-minted undisputed middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis claims recent foe, Sean Strickland actually admitted he was beaten in the Octagon by the former – in the immediate aftermath of their UFC 297 title affair, despite questions of the scorecards issued in Canada.

du Plessis, the newly-crowned undisputed middleweight champion, headlined UFC 297 earlier this month in Toronto, landing the divisional title with a close, debated split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) win over the aforenoted, Strickland.

However, in the immediate aftermath of his title victory over the outspoken, Strickland, the now-former champion claimed that an inadvertent headbutt from du Plessis altered the sway of monument in the fight, alluding to the fact that he likely would have won if the clash of heads had not occurred. 

Dricus du Plessis reflects on Sean Strickland fight

Pretoria native, du Plessis now claims, however, that despite Strickland’s quipping on social media, the latter eventually admitted he was well beaten by the South African at UFC 297.

“He (Sean Strickland) came to me in the cage, and I think this is the first time publicly I’ll say this, he came to me in the cage,” Dricus du Plessis told SuperSport Unplugged during a recent interview. “Right before they announced me as the new champion, I went to him and I shook his hand, and I said, ‘You’re a warrior, well done, it was a great fight.”

“And he said, ‘No, you definitely beat me,” Dricus du Plessis explained. “He said to me, ‘You deserve it, you won that fight, you beat me.’ I also think so.”

Immediately following his win at UFC 297, du Plessis called for a title fight grudge match with former two-time undisputed middleweight gold holder, Israel Adesanya in the near future – claiming a member of his team informed him how the City Kickboxing staple would be available for a UFC 300 showdown in April. 

Who wins in a future title pairing: Dricus du Plessis or Israel Adesanya?

Video – Sean Strickland’s immediate backstage reaction to UFC 297 title loss: ‘Welcome to fighting’

Sean Strickland response UFC 297 lossSean Strickland’s middleweight title reign came to an end a mere four months after it began. Following his stunning…

Sean Strickland response UFC 297 loss

Sean Strickland’s middleweight title reign came to an end a mere four months after it began.

Following his stunning upset of two-time champion Israel Adesanya in September, Strickland was primed to score his first successful defense against South African finisher Dricus Du Plessis. And in the eyes of many, he did exactly that. However, two of the three judges overseeing the bout favored DDP, handing him the victory and the title by a razor-thin margin.

Strickland had little to say in the immediate aftermath, but the outspoken fan favorite recently shared a video on YouTube that documented his response to the loss backstage.

“Once that eye opened up, man, I just couldn’t see sh*t,” Strickland said after returning to the locker room with his team. “Welcome to fighting. I feel like Chris Curtis. I’m going to start f*cking calling myself Chris Curtis.”

Strickland sustained a nasty cut over his left eye, one that he later attributed to a headbutt in the later rounds of the 25-minute affair. On X, Strickland shared a clip of the incident which offered a look at some compelling evidence along with the subsequent damage it resulted in.

With the accidental clash of heads apparent and everyone seemingly split on who should have left Canada with the title, including UFC CEO Dana White who scored it in favor of Strickland, there is a very strong case to be made for an immediate rematch between the two. Unfortunately, that appears to be on the back burner as the promotion is looking to book a clash with either Israel Adesnaya or the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.

All things considered, do you believe Sean Strickland is entitled to a rematch?

Jon Anik admits to overhyping Mike Malott ahead of UFC 297: ‘I was guilty of overstepping a little’

Jon Anik on Mike Malott vs. Neil Magny at UFC 297Looking back, longtime UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik believes he may have gone a little too hard hyping Canadian…

Jon Anik on Mike Malott vs. Neil Magny at UFC 297

Looking back, longtime UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik believes he may have gone a little too hard hyping Canadian standout Mike Malott.

Returning to the Octagon at UFC 297 earlier this month, Malott was a significant favorite, closing at a -380 on multiple sportsbooks against welterweight gatekeeper Neil Magny. Through two rounds of action, it appeared that the oddsmakers were justified. However, the tables were turned in the third when Magny poured it on and punished an exhausted Malott. Magny scored a TKO with just 15 seconds left in the fight.

During a recent episode of The Anik & Florian Podcast, Jon Anik spoke about the immense praise he had given to Malott ahead of fight night.

“Yeah, I mean, I do think that perhaps I was guilty maybe of overstepping a little bit when it came to some of the hyperbolic stuff I was saying about Mike Malott,” Anik said. “I mean, I stopped at suggesting he’s overrated, right? But the guy never had a decision win, so experience has gotta count for something, I give Neil Magny a whole lot of credit.”

Malott’s hype was by no means misguided. Going into the bout, the Waterdown, Ontario native was 10-1-1 with all of his victories coming by way of finish, including six submissions and four knockouts. He was also riding a five-fight win streak that predated his 2021 appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series.

“I just think that sometimes we get ahead of ourselves, especially when it comes to certain guys in certain countries with all due respect to Canada,” Anik added. “We are dying to have a man take the torch, right? And we went into this fight thinking without a shadow of a doubt, the most talented Canadian mixed martial arts male right now is Mike Malott.”

Neil Magny got back into the win column following a lackluster performance against Ian Machado Garry in August. The ‘Haitian Sensation’ is now 22-10 inside the Octagon. His victory over Malott moved him up one spot to No. 12 in the welterweight rankings.