Jon Anik defends his commentary during UFC 304’s main event, emphasizing his professionalism and objectivity despite personal relationships with fighters, and expresses a desire for a potential rematch between Belal Muhammad and Leon Edwards.
Jon Anik stands by his performance at UFC 304, especially his call of the main event.
Anik, who called the event alongside Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping in Manchester, England, faced criticism for how he called the welterweight title fight between new champion Belal Muhammad and Leon Edwards. The longtime voice of the UFC is part of the Anik & Florian Podcast group, which includes a show hosted by Muhammad and Anik’s twin brother Jason. Naturally, this professional relationship has blossomed into a friendship.
While some fans criticized his call, Anik re-watched it. As someone who strives for perfection in every broadcast, he felt it sounded fine live.
“I have interpersonal relationships on both sides of this,” Anik told MMA Fighting. “I actually go further back with Leon than I do with Belal. Tim Simpson, [Leon’s] manager, is a good friend of mine.”
“For me, the call that has helped my career the most relates to Leon Edwards. If you listen to the Anik & Florian Podcast, our show opens with Leon Edwards saying, ‘Head shot, dead,’ right? There’s a lot of connective tissue and interpersonal stuff for me on both sides of all these fights.”
“But yeah, I felt like the call was down the line.”
Now, you can imagine all the different things commentators hear from fans and fighters over the years. But Anik sleeps well at night and stands by that call. He also stands by Belal Muhammad as a friend.
“When we launched his podcast with my twin brother years ago, he had 18,000 Instagram followers and was unranked. We believed in him as someone who could become a contender or even a champion. And you know what? We bet on the right f*cking guy.”
“If I got married a second time, he might be a f*cking groomsman.”
Anik acknowledges his friendships in the sport but assures he’s not as close with Belal as he is with Dominick Cruz. Once fighters hit the tunnel or inspection zone, all personal connections fade away.
“So, it is what it is; it comes with the territory. And people who don’t want to credit this win by Belal Muhammad? Cry. Cry.”
Following Muhammad’s win, Anik did take a bit of a victory lap on social media. However, when it comes to broadcasting, Anik remains a consummate professional who calls fights impartially.
Now that the dust has settled regarding the event, Anik shared his pre-fight thoughts — and they might surprise some.
“I didn’t like him in the fight,” Anik said. “Can I say that now? Does that sound objective? I still believe Leon Edwards is the toughest matchup for him in the welterweight division.”
“Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Machado Garry, Sean Brady — they’re all right there.”
“This was a big result for Sean Brady too,” he continued. “If he can get past Gilbert ‘Durinho’ Burns — but I still think Leon is the toughest matchup for Belal.”
Even though promotionally they may not want an immediate trilogy fight between Belal Muhammad and Leon Edwards, Anik has an appetite for it.
“I believe Leon deserves it,” he said.
“If Shavkat isn’t ready or Usman isn’t ready or another contender isn’t ready, I assure you Leon would shorten up a training camp to try to get this back in blood.”