Eryk Anders isn’t planning on “fumbling the bag” to another former champion.
From Lyoto Machida To A Fight With Chris Weidman
UFC Middleweight veteran Anders got what he wanted from the premier promotion, being offered a fight with Chris Weidman at Madison Square Garden for UFC 309 on Nov. 16. For “Ya Boi”, saying yes was a no-brainer, especially with Jon Jones targeted to headline the card against Stipe Miocic: “Jon Jones is coming back… I know this card is gonna have a lot of hype.”
So, just how hyped is Anders to face Weidman in one of the more bigger fights of his career? Well, it’s not the first big name the former football player has come across, fighting Lyoto Machida in his first main event in 2018, when was 10-0. Though, the undefeated record was no more with Anders losing to “The Dragon” on a controversial split decision verdict, a mistake Anders won’t look to make again.
“I’m approaching it just as it is the Weidman that beat Anderson Silva,” Anders told Middle Easy of his upcoming fight. “Obviously, with his leg and he’s up there in age, obviously, he’s not, but, like, I’m taking this fight very seriously,training every day, 2-3 times a day.
“This would be a huge feather on my cap, a former champion. I kinda fumbled the bag against Machida. Again, a super close fight, so, I’m not trying to have no more close fights. I’m trying to go out there, get finishes, and collect performance bonuses.”
Anders Thinks “Technique Will Go Out The Window” vs. Weidman
Anders and his opponent, “The All-American” Weidman are both coming off wins in their last appearances with Weidman catching some flak for a TKO victory over Bruno Silva in March, with a few eye pokes in the fight from both fighters leading up to the finish. Not too worried about Weidman’s extended fingers, Anders thinks fists will fly in what he’s predicting to be a middleweight slugfest.
“I don’t think that Weidman has the chin that he used to, so I definitely see myself getting a finish,” Anders said. “I think he’s just kinda like who he is as a person, like, as a fighter. I think if he gets hit, he wants to get it back. I think I can wear it and take it a little bit better than he can.
“So, I just imagine that we’ll meet in the middle, eventually, technique will go out the window, and we’ll start slugging. I don’t think it would be like a Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway kinda thing and nothing like that, but I definitely see my hand getting raised.”
Career Longevity
If all goes according to plan, Weidman in November will serve as one of Anders’ three final fights before his MMA retirement, he confirmed with Middle Easy’s James Lynch. Anders additionally said he’d like to fight Brendan Allen in his last fight in the Octagon seeing as though he has a past win over Allen, beating him by decision in the LFA one month before his UFC debut in 2017.
Anders has fought at both middleweight and light heavyweight throughout his 24-fight career, fighting the likes of upcoming title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. back in 2019.
Unfortunately, Anders received the raw deal of Rountree’s highlight reel, being knocked down four times in 15 minutes – a masterful performance put on by Rountree after a camp spent training Muay Thai in Thailand.
Anders Gives Prediction On Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.
It’ll be interesting to say the least how Rountree’s heavy striking style looks against current light heavyweight champion and former Glory Kickboxing Champion Alex Pereira when they collide at UFC 307 next month in Salt Lake City, Utah. Knowing a thing or two about fighting Rountree and witnessing Pereira’s streak of KO’s as of late, Anders believes the matchup will come down to who has more power.
“Someone’s going to get knocked out in the night for sure,” Anders said of his former foe fighting Pereira. “I remember when I was fighting Rountree, I was getting ready to fight him. He just didn’t seem so aggressive as he is now. I remember thinking, he’s like, well, if he hits me, everybody that he dropped, he didn’t knock them out. He just put them on the ground. So I was like, you know, I think even if he does catch me, he did several times, and I was right… he put me on the ground and didn’t finish me. But, Pereira is like, if he touches you, dude, that’s a wrap.”
However, that’s not to say Anders is counting out Rountree’s chances against heavy-handed betting favorite Pereira.
“I guess they both have a punchers chance,” Anders continued. “Alex Pereira, like, he’s got the reach, but he don’t use the reach. I think that that could be a problem for him against a guy like Rountree. And he’s left handed too, Roundtree, so his stance is backwards. Which I’ve known Pereira, switches stances and stuff, but we all know it’s his left hook that is the bomb.
“I think Pereira will probably get it done, actually. But Rountree, dude I’m telling you, he’s gonna swarm if he puts him on the ground. So, I’m excited to see that matchup.”
Watch Eryk Anders’ interview with Middle Easy’s James Lynch below.
