- Jon Anik discussed the magnitude of the upcoming BMF title fight between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje
- The UFC commentator also explained how the BMF winner could become worthy of a title shot
UFC commentator Jon Anik shared his honest thoughts on the recent thrilling events in the UFC. Even more interesting, Anik also named his “BMF” for each division.
The upcoming BMF title is an Upgrade
In an exclusive interview with Middle Easy, Anik explained why he thinks the BMF title fight between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 is one step ahead of the previous one featuring Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal.
As per Anik, the fact that Poirier and Gaethje are serious title fight candidates when they agree to fight for the BMF belt ultimately makes it greater than Diaz vs. Masvidal.
“You know it’s a great question and I hate to fence it when I get such a thoughtful question but if you think about how many guys may fight for the BMF title, as Dana determines who is worthy of that distinction right now, as long as this main event goes off without a hitch or list is Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier. It’s pretty gaudy list. What I mean like who are the next two individuals that are going to be worthy of fighting for this belt? Now, it’s not an undisputed belt but who are the guys most worthy of it and at least as far as championship stakes, these two are closer to the belt than perhaps where Masvidal and Nate Diaz were when they fought at UFC 244 or whatever it was,” Anik pointed out.
“So, gosh! I mean, it’s a hard question but I would probably have to leave, I love you ‘Gamebred’, I love you Nate Diaz… but bro, I gotta say Poirier and Gaethje are fighting for the true title of eliminator and as such, I think you would have to say it has just elevated the discussion,” he continued.
There could be a Storyline
Anik also thinks that even though the lightweight belt is on the line, the timing of the upcoming BMF title fight between two of the best lightweight contenders in the world is not really a bad idea. In fact, the veteran UFC color commentator even suggests that it would be a great storyline if Islam Makhachev manages to defend his lightweight belt and go on to face the winner between Poirier and Gaethje.
“I think for them, it probably be good if Islam Makhachev beats Charles Olivera second time, it’s clean and obviously they don’t have any history there,” Anik explained. “But… I don’t know that it needs that and I don’t even know that it needs that belt to standalone as a five-round paper view main event but it’s cool you know, it’s promotable for sure and I think it only elevates the winner. I just I wouldn’t mind seeing the winner of this fight potentially defend the BMF belt depending on who the opposition might be and that’s when it gets funky in terms of who actually can fight for this thing.”
Islam vs. Oliveira is Perfect
Makhachev is set for a title fight rematch with Charles Oliveira at UFC 294. Speaking of which, Anik is certain the UFC made the best decision of rewarding Oliveira another shot at the title, considering how massive his win over Beneil Dariush was.
“Yeah… absolutely in a meritocracy since you don’t have a fight booked, you wait for Dariush-Charles Olivera and then Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Olivera goes out and does that. He essentially makes himself undeniable [of a title shot],” Anik said. “And it’s not like they needed to announce Abu Dhabi nine days before Gaethje-Poirier fight and maybe they did, I don’t think they did though, and the fact that they would do that just speaks to how great a singular win that was I mean nobody could beat Dariush for years and Charles Olivera was just like, ‘Alright, next!’… So yes I think that’s the right fight.”
“Volkanovski on the mend a little bit. I do believe Ilia Topuria has emerged so I think that makes sense for Wolkanovski but obviously if Islam Makhachev is not the lightweight champion at some point in time then that Volkanovski rematch at least, on the Volk side, isn’t as appetizing so there are factors to it but yes,I think in a meritocracy this is absolutely the right fight in what I believe is the best division,” he added.
Anik’s BMF picks
Anik then ecstatically named his BMF from the list of current fighters for each division in the UFC.
“What a great question. Brandon Moreno! What a great question. It makes me want to write this down and do it on my show and give you all the god*mn credit in the world Mike,” Anik began.
“Dominick Cruz! I’m sorry to the rest of the bantamweight division people don’t know how bad a mother effer Cruz really is so Dominic Cruz at 35… 145 a part of me thinks of Darren Elkins so why not just give it to Darren ‘The Damage’ Elkins… 155, I could give this to any of them that’s the point, I can’t go Poirier because they’re fighting for the BMF belt and that would be a tremendous cop out and tremendously one sided of me. Tony Ferguson! He’s still fighting at lightweight so Tony Ferguson could absolutely fight for BMF belt and nobody would bat an eye and we’ll go Ferguson at 55… 170 pounds gosh! Let’s go with Leon Edwards right now, let’s go with the champion because why not? Because why not?,” he continued.
“Middleweight? You know I’d like to say Marvin Vettori but maybe I’ll go with the guy who almost beat him: Roman Dolidze… 205, Jamhal Hill’s the guy man, you know I don’t know if Johnny Walker is too smiley to be that type of guy but he certainly flips the switch in a way that most people don’t understand you know Ryan Spann can be a bad mother effer himself but you know let’s get Johnny Walker, a little shy he’s on a real championship trajectory we’ll go Johnny Walker at 205,” he added. “[Heavyweight], Is John Jones not the human personification of the baddest motherf**ker in the room? Is he not Mike?”
UFC 291 will take place on July 30 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, while UFC 294 will happen on October 22 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Anik is expected to be on the commentary table in both massive events.
