Jon Anik never expected his comments about toxic MMA fans to blow up the way it did.
Earlier this month, the longtime UFC commentator suggested that his days working with the promotion may be numbered after he went on a rant regarding the negativity among fans on social media. Anik himself was hit with an onslaught of vile comments online after he voiced his opinion on the contentious UFC 297 headliner between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.
🚨| Jon Anik expresses his frustration and even hints retirement from UFC commentary amid fan reaction to him thinking that Dricus Du Plessis rightfully won at UFC 297. 😬
[@AnikFlorianPod]#MMA #UFC https://t.co/1THnMjUKy6
— MMA Frenzy (@mma_frenzy) January 25, 2024
After voicing his displeasure in what was clearly an emotional moment for Anik, he took time to clear the air on the latest episode of his Anik & Florian podcast.
“When we got off the air last Wednesday, I didn’t even necessarily remember that rant or even saying it, but I understand a little bit more acutely the power of my words and perhaps making a statement and being that apologetic in tone was not necessarily the way to go, but I just sort of wanted to move on with my life, but I have the job that I want,” Anik said.
“I take my relationship with the fan base seriously because I feel like I need to be that conduit as one of the forward-facing members of this company and yeah, my life kind of changed over the weekend, but I assure you that I feel the love and support. Not that I was looking for that at all, but my relationship with this roster, the fighters… My ardan supporters has never been stronger and I have to prioritize that above all things.”
It Was a ‘Wild’ 72 Hours for Jon Anik
After making his UFC debut in 2011, Anik quickly became one of the most beloved members of the UFC broadcast team once he was promoted to pay-per-view events following the departure of Mike Goldberg in 2017. Anik’s wealth of knowledge and genuine love for the sport comes oozing to the surface every time he’s calling the action, making him one of the best play-by-play men the sport has ever known.
“It was a wild f*cking 72 hours, I’ll tell you that,” Anik concluded.
Watch the full podcast episode below:
