Jon Anik – Syndication Server

UFC 309: How to watch Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic title fight, New York lineup, odds, more (Updated)

Here’s what you need to know to watch UFC 309 on pay-per-view, ESPNews, Hulu, FX and ESPN+.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The UFC’s 13th and penultimate pay-per-view event of 2024 goes down Saturday in the “Big Apple.”

Here’s how to watch UFC 309 with the heavyweight title on the line at the top of the card at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Broadcast and streaming info

UFC 309 has a main card that begins at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on pay-per-view (via ESPN+). The four-fight preliminary card airs on ESPNews, FX and Hulu at 8 p.m. ET. Three early prelims air on Hulu and stream on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.

[autotag]Dan Hellie[/autotag] will host the official UFC 309 weigh-in show on Friday.

He’ll be joined by UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag], coach [autotag]Din Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]Laura Sanko[/autotag].

Former UFC title challengers [autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] and [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag], as well as retired lightweight contender [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] will serve as a desk analysts on the UFC 309 post-fight show and throughout the card, when necessary. [autotag]Brendan Fitzgerald[/autotag] will serve as the host.

Longtime UFC correspondent [autotag]Megan Olivi[/autotag] will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC 309 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event.

[autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC 309.

He will command play-by-play alongside color commentators and UFC Hall of Famer Cormier and [autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag].

(Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie)

Main event: Jon Jones

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 04: Jon Jones looks on during the UFC heavyweight championship fight against Ciryl Gane of France during the UFC 285 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 04, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775947443 ORIG FILE ID: 1471352966

Record: 27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC
Opponent: Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Key wins: Ciryl Gane
Misc.: Won vacant heavyweight title with first-round submission of Ciryl Gane in March 2023. That was his debut at heavyweight after years as the light heavyweight champion. He’s been on the shelf with an injury till now.

Main event: Stipe Miocic

Record: 20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC
Opponent: Jon Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Key wins: Daniel Cormier (twice), Francis Ngannou, Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum
Misc.: Lost the heavyweight title in March 2021 to Ngannou. Was set to fight Jones a year ago until Jones’ injury took him out. Miocic chose to wait for Jones’ return rather than fight, putting his current layoff at around 44 months. Prior to this, the longest Miocic ever had gone without a fight was 13 months.

Co-main event: Michael Chandler

Nov 12, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Dustin Poirier (red gloves) and Michael Chandler (blue gloves) during UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC
Opponent: Charles Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Key wins: Tony Ferguson, Dan Hooker
Misc.: Former Bellator champion has had mixed success in the UFC, including a knockout loss to Oliveira in a title fight that he’ll be trying to avenge as an underdog Saturday.

Co-main event: Charles Oliveira

May 15, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Charles Oliveira applies a hold against Michael Chandler uring UFC 262 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC
Opponent: Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Key wins: Beneil Dariush, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Chandler, Tony Ferguson
Misc.: Oliveira already has one win over Chandler – a knockout to win the vacant lightweight title in 2021. He defended it against Poirier and beat Gaethje – but in a fight for which he missed weight and was stripped of the belt. After a loss to new champ Islam Makhachev, he rebounded against Dariush, but lost a likely title eliminator to Arman Tsarukyan in April.

UFC 309 main card betting odds

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 03: (R-L) Viviane Araujo of Brazil punches Natalia Silva of Brazil in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 03, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

Champ Jon Jones (-625) vs. Stipe Miocic (+455) – for heavyweight title
Michael Chandler (+205) vs. Charles Oliveira (-250)
Paul Craig (+700) vs. Bo Nickal (-1100)
Viviane Araujo (+220) vs. Karine Silva (-270)
James Llontop (+550) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (-800)

UFC 309 prelim betting odds

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews/FX/Hulu, 8 p.m. ET)

Jonathan Martinez (+120) vs. Marcus McGhee (-140)
Eryk Anders (-120) vs. Chris Weidman (+100)
Damon Jackson (-180) vs. Jim Miller (+150)
David Onama (-1000) vs. Roberto Romero (+600)

UFC 309 early prelim betting odds

PRELIMINARY CARD (Hulu/ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

Jhonata Diniz (+125) vs. Marcin Tybura (-150)
Ramiz Brahimaj (+120) vs. Mickey Gall (-140)
Bassil Hafez (-+230) vs. Oban Elliott (-285)
Veronica Hardy (-150) vs. Eduarda Moura (+125)

UFC 309 preview videos

Why Jon Anik considers Islam Makhachev No. 1 pound-for-pound over Jon Jones ‘every day of the week’

The debate over who is the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter isn’t much of a debate to Jon Anik.

Jon Anik doesn’t agree with Dana White, believing that [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] should be No. 1 pound-for-pound over [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag].

Lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound in the UFC rankings, which has caused White to melt down on more than one occasion. White argues that Jones is undeniably No. 1, even though he currently sits at No. 3 behind light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Makhachev.

Anik agrees with the UFC rankings as he thinks Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) having not competed since claiming the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023 plays a big part.

“Islam Makhachev’s ability to find that takedown and find that submission in his last title defense against Dustin Poirier is about as good as it gets,” Anik told Kevin Iole. “For me, he was the guy going in, so I don’t know that he loses that perch for me. I have always put 155 pounds on a pedestal. I do believe 155 pounds is the deepest division.

“And part of the reason why Ilia Topuria is getting Fighter of the Year consideration, and rightfully so over Alex Pereira, is because of the depth of his division. But for me, it is Islam Makhachev every day of the week. Jon Jones is in the conversation, but inactivity, I think, largely takes him out of the discourse.”

If Jones retires, Anik OK with it

Jones is scheduled to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the UFC 309 main event Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Both Jones and his coaches have hinted that he will retire after facing Miocic, and Anik thinks he shouldn’t get any flack if that does end up happening.

“If Jon Jones doesn’t fight Tom Aspinall after raising a 16th championship banner in Albuquerque, New Mexico in theory by beating Stipe Miocic, I don’t know that anybody would really judge him,” Anik said.

“Yes, the competitor that resides within Jon Jones, there could be no higher note upon which to go out than to beat either Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira for Jon Jones, right? But the dude doesn’t need that high note. He’s the greatest of all time.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

UFC 308: How to watch Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway title fight, Abu Dhabi lineup, odds, more

Here’s what you need to know to watch UFC 308 on pay-per-view and ESPN+.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The UFC’s 12th pay-per-view event of 2024 goes down Saturday in the United Arab Emirates.

Here’s how to watch UFC 308 with the featherweight title on the line at the top of the card at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Broadcast and streaming info

UFC 308 has a main card that begins at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on pay-per-view (via ESPN+). The nine-fight preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at 10 a.m. ET.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag], [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Din Thomas[/autotag] will serve as a desk analysts on the UFC 308 post-fight show and throughout the card, when necessary. [autotag]Brendan Fitzgerald[/autotag] will serve as the host.

[autotag]John Gooden[/autotag] will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC 308 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event.

[autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside.

He will command play-by-play alongside color commentators and UFC Hall of Famer Cormier and Felder.

(Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie)

Main event: Ilia Topuria

Jun 24, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Ilia Topuria (blue gloves) leaves the ring after he wins a unanimous decision against Josh Emmett (red gloves) in a featherweight bout during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC
Opponent: Max Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Key wins: Alexander Volkanovski, Josh Emmett, Bryce Mitchell
Misc.: Knocked out Volkanovski, who has three wins over Holloway, to win the title in February. Bonuses in four straight fights.

Main event: Max Holloway

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Max Holloway (blue gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (red gloves) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC
Opponent: Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Key wins: Justin Gaethje, Chan Sung Jung, Arnold Allen, Yair Rodriguez, Calvin Kattar, Frankie Edgar, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo (twice), Charles Oliveira
Misc.: Has three straight wins since his third shot at Volkanovski in July 2022. His “BMF” win over Justin Gaethje was a double bonus winner and regarded as one of the greatest moments in MMA history. Holloway’s title run was one of the greatest, but it’s been nearly five years since he held the featherweight belt.

Co-main event: Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev def. Kamaru Usman, UFC 294

Record: 13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC
Opponent: Robert Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Kamaru Usman, Kevin Holland, Gilbert Burns, Li Jingliang
Misc.: Chimaev is back for the first time in a year. A severe illness took him out of the fight in June.

Co-main event: Robert Whittaker

Robert Whittaker def. Ikram Aliskerov, UFC on ABC 6

Record: 27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC
Opponent: Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Ikram Aliskerov, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, Darren Till, Yoel Romero (twice), Ronaldo Souza, Derek Brunson
Misc.: Former champ has back-to-back wins over Costa and Aliskerov, the latter of which was a bonus-winning first-round knockout in June after Chimaev pulled out of their fight.

UFC debut: Carlos Leal

2023 PFL 9: New York at the The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (Cooper Neill / PFL)

Record: 21-5
Opponent: Rinat Fakhretdinov (22-1-1 MMA, 4-0-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Dilano Taylor, Ray Cooper III
Misc.: 30-year-old Brazilian has fought for Bellator and in two PFL seasons.

UFC debut: Raffael Cerqueira

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBTcZwBJg5R

Record: 11-0
Opponent: Ibo Aslan (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Misc.: 34-year-old Brazilian was supposed to fight on DWCS in September, but two opponents pulled out on him. When he was booked a third time, the opportunity came to just skip the line and go straight to the show against Aslan.

UFC 308 main card betting odds

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic, UFC 308

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 2 p.m. ET)

Champ Ilia Topuria (-245) vs. Max Holloway (+200) – for featherweight title
Khamzat Chimaev (-220) vs. Robert Whittaker (+180)
Magomed Ankalaev (-390) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (+290)
Dan Ige (+165) vs. Lerone Murphy (-195)
Shara Magomedov (-175) vs. Armen Petrosyan (+145)

UFC 308 prelim betting odds

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 16: (R-L) Chris Barnett punches Martin Buday of Slovakia in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Ibo Aslan (-120) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (+100)
Rafael dos Anjos (+235) vs. Geoff Neal (-290)
Myktybek Orolbai (-280) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (+230)
Brunno Ferreira (+125) vs. Abus Magomedov (-150)
Chris Barnett (+400) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (-550)
Farid Basharat (-550) vs. Victor Hugo (+375)
Ismail Naurdiev (-120) vs. Bruno Silva (+100)
Rinat Fakhretdinov (N/A) vs. Carlos Leal (N/A)

UFC 308 preview videos

UFC 307: How to watch Pereira-Rountree, Pennington-Peña title fights, Salt Lake City lineup, odds, more

Here’s what you need to know to watch UFC 307 on pay-per-view, ESPNews and ESPN+.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The UFC’s 11th pay-per-view event of 2024 goes down Saturday in Utah.

Here’s how to watch UFC 307 with the light heavyweight and women’s bantamweight titles on the line at the top of the card at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Broadcast and streaming info

Jon Anik, Laura Sanko, Daniel Cormier | UFC 293 commentary team

UFC 307 has a main card that begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view (via ESPN+). The four-fight preliminary card airs on ESPNews and streams on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. A trio of early prelims stream on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.

[autotag]Dan Hellie[/autotag] will host the official UFC 307 weigh-in show on Friday at 10:50 a.m. ET.

[autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] will serve as a desk analysts on the UFC 307 post-fight show and throughout the card, when necessary. The host and other analysts are to be determined.

Longtime UFC correspondent [autotag]Megan Olivi[/autotag] will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC 307 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event.

[autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside.

He will command play-by-play alongside color commentators, former two-division champion Cormier, as well as [autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag].

[autotag]Din Thomas[/autotag] also will occasionally join the booth throughout the broadcast as the coach-analyst for the event.

He’ll be joined by UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag], former middleweight champion [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag] and [autotag]Laura Sanko[/autotag] as analysts.

(Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie)

Main event: Alex Pereira

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) fights Jiri Prochazka (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC
Opponent: Khalil Rountree (14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Key wins: Jiri Prochazka (twice), Jamahal Hill, Jan Blachowicz, Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland
Misc.: Pereira has become arguably the biggest name in the game. After he came over from a kickboxing career that included two wins over Israel Adesanya, he beat Adesanya to win the middleweight belt. Although he dropped it in a rematch, he quickly went on to win the light heavyweight belt and has defended it with two vicious bonus-winning victories.

Main event: Khalil Rountree

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 12: (R-L) Khalil Rountree Jr. punches Chris Daukaus in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Powers/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Record: 14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC
Opponent: Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Key wins: Anthony Smith, Chris Daukaus, Dustin Jacoby, Karl Roberson, Paul Craig
Misc.: Rountree has been shelved for a bit due to a failed drug test – which left plenty of critics disenfranchised that he was given a title shot over other potential challengers. But he has five straight wins, four of which have come by knockout, and three bonuses in that stretch. Still, he’ll be by far the biggest underdog to go up against Pereira yet.

Main event: Raquel Pennington

Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Raquel Pennington (red glove) fights Mayra Bueno Silva (blue gloves) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 16-9 MMA, 13-5 UFC
Opponent: Julianna Peña (12-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Key wins: Mayra Bueno Silva, Ketlen Vieira, Aspen Ladd, Macy Chiasson, Pannie Kianzad, Marion Reneau, Irene Aldana, Miesha Tate, Jessica Andrade
Misc.: After 15 years in the sport, Pennington finally reached the pinnacle in January when she outworked Mayra Bueno Silva for the title vacated by former dual champion Amanda Nunes. The fight with ex-champ Peña will be her first attempted title defense.

Main event: Julianna Peña

Jul 30, 2022; Dallas, TX, USA; Julianna Pena (red gloves) fights Amanda Nunes (blue gloves) in a women’s bantamweight title bout during UFC 277 at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 12-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC
Opponent: Raquel Pennington (16-9 MMA, 13-5 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Key wins: Amanda Nunes, Sara McMann, Cat Zingano, Jessica Eye
Misc.: Peña submitted Amanda Nunes to win the title in late 2021 in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. But she was dominated in the rematch eight months later and dropped the belt. She’s been on the shelf for more than two years.

UFC 307 main card betting odds

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

Champ Alex Pereira (-525) vs. Khalil Rountree (+360) – for light heavyweight title
Champ Raquel Pennington (-180) vs. Julianna Peña (+150) – for women’s bantamweight title
Jose Aldo (+145) vs. Mario Bautista (-175)
Kayla Harrison (-850) vs. Ketlen Vieira (+500)
Roman Dolidze (+145) vs. Kevin Holland (-175)

UFC 307 prelim betting odds

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews/ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Joaquin Buckley (-200) vs. Stephen Thompson (+170)
Iasmin Lucindo (-175) vs. Marina Rodriguez (+145)
Cesar Almeida (-400) vs. Ihor Potieria (+300)
Alexander Hernandez (-215) vs. Austin Hubbard (+170)

UFC 307 early prelim betting odds

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews/ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Ovince Saint Preux (+275) vs. Ryan Spann (-370)
Carla Esparza (+145) vs. Tecia Pennington (-175)
Court McGee (+195) vs. Tim Means (-240)

UFC 307 preview videos

Jon Anik marvels at Merab Dvalishvili’s ‘unbreakable will,’ says ‘dude needs to be tested for science’

Jon Anik brands UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili as the total package.

[autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] brands [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] as the total package.

Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) claimed the bantamweight title with a dominant win over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Dvalishvili has shown off his cardio by pressing a relentless pace in his 11-fight unbeaten run. Although Dvalishvili has only finished one opponent in the UFC, Anik thinks his durability has to be spoken for.

“I think going into Merab and Sean O’Malley, a lot of people might have fancied Umar (Nurmagomedov) against either guy, and maybe now they’re not so sure just given how dominant Merab was,” Anik told Middle Easy. “Guys like Merab Dvalishvili and Belal Muhammad are never going to get credit for what they do as strikers, if they have a nice jab or a nice point of entry. But man, the total package of Merab – the dude needs to be tested for science, right? And, yeah, I’m saying that maybe for comedic value, but what is inside of there?

“I’m sure you’ve heard Colby Covington talk about the third lung he realized he had when he was eight years old playing soccer. But there’s just something about this champion, this unbreakable will, combined with this cardiovascular base and strength. If you take John Wood at his word, he’s only getting better. So we’ll see if he can start knocking some people out, but Merab’s the man. Couldn’t happen to a better human being, as trite as that may sound. Georgia getting some things done. We’ll see which nation is next.”

With Deiveson Figueiredo booked against Petr Yan in the UFC Fight Night 248 headliner Nov. 23 in Macau, it appears undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov is likely next for Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili has long dismissed Nurmagomedov as a title contender, but said he’d fight him if that’s who the UFC offered.

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Jon Anik: Like Conor McGregor, ‘there’s nothing really scripted’ in Dricus Du Plessis’ trash talk

Jon Anik thinks Dricus Du Plessis is a natural when it comes to mental warfare.

PERTH, Australia – [autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] is a natural when it comes to mental warfare.

That was evident at Thursday’s UFC 305 pre-fight press conference, when Du Plessis’ trash talk triggered an emotional response from opponent Israel Adesanya.

Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) defends his middleweight title against Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 305 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

Du Plessis now has managed to get under the skin of his past two opponents in Sean Strickland and Adesanya in the lead-up to their fights, and Anik compared his trash talk to [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s.

“Not unlike Conor McGregor, there’s nothing really scripted,” Anik told MMA Junkie of Du Plessis. “Certainly there is pre-thought, but he’s just orating naturally and he is effectively getting under the skin of high-level, elite opponents that maybe shouldn’t be taking that sort of bait.

“I just sort of waxed poetic on Israel Adesanya – Dricus Du Plessis is the f*cking man, right – to watch what this guy has done in his UFC career and just methodically go about his business/ I think when you’re sort of a man of truth as he is, you’re very comfortable in your own skin. I don’t think that he has really emoted too much when it comes to this fight, and I think as far as Dricus’ methodology and his mentality is concerned, that’s a great thing.”

“Come on guys stop crying at the press conferences it’s not that serious .”

Come on guys stop crying at the press conferences it’s not that serious 🤣

— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) August 16, 2024

If Du Plessis gets past Adesanya, he will have already put together an impressive resume at middleweight in the UFC. Anik isn’t ready to call him a middleweight great just yet if he’s successful, but would see him on track.

“I think it’s a little bit too early to go there, but it certainly wasn’t lost on Dricus that he could have back-to-back wins over Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya, which would just be an absolutely incredible feat,” Anik said. “He’s also a guy that hasn’t tasted defeat in the UFC, and has stayed true to every fiber in his bone while doing it.

“Those are conversations that I think really wouldn’t open after a first title defense even given the strength of schedule, but he’s doing some special things. He’s got an entire nation behind him, and he’s got a big test here obviously come Sunday morning.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.

Jon Anik ‘would levy some concern’ on other fighters getting emotional, but not Israel Adesanya

Jon Anik doesn’t put too much stock into Israel Adesanya getting emotional during the UFC 305 pre-fight press conference.

PERTH, Australia – [autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] doesn’t put too much stock into [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] getting emotional during the UFC 305 pre-fight press conference.

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag](21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) got under Adesanya’s (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) skin during Thursday’s press conference when he suggested that Adesanya has servants. Adesanya broke down into tears when going off in response.

Anik was in the middle of it all as he hosted the press conference between the two rivals.

“This feud is real,” Anik told MMA Junkie. “And even though our fighter meeting with Dricus Du Plessis was largely rooted in him just showering buckets of respect upon Israel Adesanya’s legacy and everything that he’s accomplished, the backdrop to this one is definitely friction and heat, and for a lot of MMA fans, that’s the best of backdrops. So, we’re very excited to call this f*cking thing here in a few hours.”

Anik says Adesanya looked as composed as ever during fighter meetings. “The Stylebender” returns from an 11-month hiatus to challenge middleweight champion Du Plessis in Saturday’s UFC 305 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

So despite Du Plessis’ words triggering Adesanya, Anik doesn’t see it as an alarming sign.

“I do think he has this inexorable attachment to his family and his roots, and they were all right there,” Anik said. “I didn’t cry much in my 30’s, but I’ve made up for lost time in my 40’s. So, I do think that it’s not something that I would lean too heavily into.

I also think that he’s getting ready for a weight cut so, there are a lot of different things that maybe could have triggered it, but perhaps with other athletes I would levy some concern, but not in this case.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.

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Jon Anik still hopeful for Conor McGregor UFC return but ‘exhausted’ over inactivity

A couple weeks ago at the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet, lead play-by-play voice Jon Anik said he was “hopeful” for a Conor McGregor return in 2024.

A couple weeks ago at the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet, lead play-by-play voice [autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] said he was “hopeful” for a [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] return in 2024.

Not only that, but Anik said he expected McGregor to fight a couple times in about eight months once he finally does return. But until then, as long as McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) continues to say on the sidelines in a layoff that now has reached three years, Anik said he’s growing tired of waiting and wondering.

“I’m just exhausted,” Anik told MMA Junkie Radio. “It doesn’t mean I dislike him or I’m hating on him. I’m just exhausted. I guess I’m frustrated – that’s probably the right verb when it comes to some of Conor McGregor’s inactivity. But largely, I think a lot of this has been out of his control. It’s not always easy being the biggest superstar in mixed martial arts. It certainly isn’t easy when you snap your leg in half, and then obviously he had a setback in this most recent training camp.”

McGregor was training for the UFC 303 main event vs. Michael Chandler, a long-discussed fight that finally came to fruition about 18 months after it first was known.

Anik thinks once McGregor, 35, has his next fight scheduled, he’ll suddenly become a more frequent fighter. It might seem unrealistic, but Anik maintains a high degree of hope about what’s on the horizon for the brash Irishman.

“I’ve got to stay consistent in terms of my thesis statement on Conor: Tt’s that he’s going to enjoy the yacht life a whole lot more with a couple more MMA (wins), or at the very least fights – high-profile fights and the mixed martial artists in there.

“The professional athlete in there, the competitor in there, is such that I expect him to try to come back and fight a couple of times here in short order. I’ve been very wrong before. … There’s no recreational activity or boxing ring that is going to do for him, what a win over Michael Chandler and some of these other guys can do.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Jon Anik hopes Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes puts ‘pressure on heavyweight division to move forward’

Jon Anik wants to see Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes help clarify the state of the heavyweight division.

[autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] wants to see [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] help clarify the state of the heavyweight division.

Interim heavyweight champion Aspinall (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) runs things back with Blaydes (18-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) in the UFC 304 co-main event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) July 27 in Manchester, England.

With Jon Jones’ first title defense vs. Stipe Miocic yet to be officially booked, Anik hopes the outcome of Aspinall vs. Blaydes helps the division finally move forward.

“Certainly a 25-minute war between Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall that results in six months of recovery time wouldn’t be ideal for either party, nor would it be for MMA fans who want to see things expedited in this heavyweight division,” Anik told MMA Junkie Radio.

“It really is crazy to think about a Stipe Miocic who was 38 years old competing in there (vs. Ngannou) and we’ll next see him when he’s 42. He’s sort of the least talked about component of this bracket right now, but that seems crazy to me.”

Aspinall was eager to unify his belt with heavyweight champion Jones, but finds himself defending his interim title instead. Anik sees Aspinall as a legitimate champion.

“The interim belt is there because the undisputed title can’t be contested for whatever reason, so as far as I’m concerned, Tom Aspinall is defending the heavyweight championship against a very capable and unheralded Curtis Blaydes,” Anik said.

“I certainly am hopeful that the winner of that fight emerges relatively unscathed, not just because my car’s waiting outside and the Round 1 knockout is a broadcaster’s dream, but also because I’d like to see some pressure on this heavyweight division to move forward. There are a lot of things that are happening, and hopefully we get clarity.”

However, Anik understands why Jones was never stripped of his heavyweight title after a year-and-a-half on the sidelines due to injury.

“Tom Aspinall is ready, willing and able to show the world that he can be the undisputed heavyweight champion and the best heavyweight.” Anik said. “And there are other guys Curtis Blaydes who are ready to show that, as well, in their fighting prime, not wanting to waste any those prime months, never mind years.

“So it’s tricky when the greatest mixed martial arts athlete of all time tears his (pectoral muscle) because there’s not going to be a vacation of title and you’re certainly not going to strip the GOAT.”

[lawrence-related id=2754702,2749206,2743173,2742846]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

Jon Anik leaning ‘337’ or King of Diamonds for next tattoo if Dustin Poirier beats Nate Diaz in dream fight

It’s been eight years Jon Anik said he’d get a Nate Diaz tattoo if he upset Conor McGregor at UFC 196 – and then had to follow through.

It’s been a bit since [autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] playfully suggested he’d get a [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] tattoo if he upset Conor McGregor at UFC 196.

Now about eight years into the now semi-famous “209” ink on Anik’s arm, he’s throwing out potential for a second fighter-themed tattoo. If [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] got matched up with Diaz in the UFC and beat him, Anik said he’d pay tribute to Poirier, as well, after a Poirier suggestion of it.

He even said before he hosted the UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony, he thought about getting a surprise tattoo to honor inductee Frankie Edgar, a former lightweight champion.

“Certainly, the 209 tattoo will not be the last fighter tattoo or fighter tributary tattoo that I get,” Anik told MMA Junkie Radio. “If you really want to know, I was trying to find a really good fine-line tattoo artist in Vegas the week of the Hall of Fame (induction) to get my Fe Iron element symbol in honor of the great Frankie Edgar right here on the inside of my arm that also dons the 209, incidentally.

“But for Dustin, I’ve always wanted a neck tattoo. Part of me wants to mimic his tattoo with the King of diamonds right behind the ear or just a diamond emoji. We could go 337 – you know, I’m not looking to be ludicrous with different area codes with numbers all over my body, necessarily. But yeah, we would go 337.”

Anik said he thinks the odds for that fight likely would highly favor Poirier, but the longtime fighter and former interim lightweight champion from Lafayette, La., still would be worthy of some ink – and risk irking his wife, even just temporarily.

He said when he got his 209 tattoo in 2016 that it took her a minute to be on board.

“Certainly Dustin Poirier is a fighter I would have no problem immortalizing on my skin forever, even if he’s trying to get me to do it in a fight in which he might be a -400 favorite,” Anik said.

Poirier is coming off a fifth-round submission loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in June. Diaz beat Jorge Masvidal in a boxing match this past Saturday in California. It’s been nearly two years since his last fight in the UFC, a submission of Tony Ferguson in September 2022.