In the recent headlines, Jon Anik found himself in the midst of controversy as he hinted at the possibility of stepping away from the world of MMA. The catalyst for this revelation was the considerable backlash he faced from some MMA fans following his commentary on the Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland bout at UFC 297.
Anik had openly expressed his opinion that Dricus du Plessis had rightfully won the fight, which sparked a wave of criticism and what he described as "malice and disrespect" from certain sections of the MMA fanbase. The aftermath of his remarks became the talk of the MMA online community, with Strickland himself responding and taking issue with Anik's characterization of fans as the "lowest common denominator."
Feeling the heat, Anik took to social media on a Saturday to issue an apology for his comments. In his statement, he explained that he was in a "heightened emotional state" during his podcast following numerous allegations of bias at UFC 297. Anik admitted to making regrettable comments about the MMA fanbase and recognized the need to be more responsible when speaking on an open microphone. He acknowledged the extensive effort that goes into organizing a UFC pay-per-view and the challenge of facing integrity questions.
While expressing surprise at the extent to which his comments were "re-purposed and sensationalized," Anik didn't offer excuses for his retort. He described himself as a fiery, passionate, flawed, and empathetic individual, conceding that sometimes his emotions take the lead. Anik apologized to the MMA fans he may have offended, emphasizing that it was not his intention to do so. Despite the controversy, he reaffirmed his commitment to accessibility and engagement with the fanbase, a tradition he has maintained for the past 12 years.
Anik's apology was somewhat surprising, considering the significant support he received from fellow athletes in the MMA space. Fighters such as Matt Brown, Cub Swanson, Sodiq Yusuff, Paulo Costa, and more stood up for Anik's comments, showing solidarity within the community.
Regardless of the controversy, the UFC's primary play-by-play commentator is gearing up for his next assignment in the booth. Anik is set to contribute to the commentary team at UFC 298, scheduled for February 17 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.