Jon Anik to Be Joined by Two New Fighters at the Commentary Booth

When Jon Anik hunkers down at the broadcast booth to call a UFC event, he’s typically joined by one of two fighters. One is former UFC lightweight and featherweight title challenger Kenny Florian. The other is former UFC middleweight Brian Stann. Both are long retired.

Today, however, news broke that Anik will be joined by two active fighters in the near future – both of whom happen to be reigning world champions.

The first new fighter to join Anik for play-by-play duties will be UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. He’ll don the commentary headset for the UFC’s trip to Brasilia, Brazil this Saturday, which is headlined by a 140-pound catchweight bout between Cris Cyborg and Lina Lansberg. Cruz has spent the last few years honing his mic skills behind the analyst’s desk on Fox Sports.

The second new fighter to accompany Anik will be reigning light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. He’ll help with play-by-play duties for the UFC’s October 1 trip to Portland, which will be headlined by a scrap between bantamweight bangers John Lineker and John Dodson. Like Cruz, Cormier is a regular on the Fox Sports analyst’s desk.

UFC champ @DominickCruz will handle play-by-play duties alongside @Jon_Anik for Saturday's #UFCBrasilia card, per the LA Times.

— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) September 20, 2016

And UFC champ @dc_mma will call #UFCPortland from cageside with @Jon_Anik on Oct. 1. Will be cool to hear some new voices in the booth.

— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) September 20, 2016

As Mike Bohn of MMAJunkie.com says, this news comes from the LA Times.

Earlier this year, Cruz returned to action after a long stretch on the injury list, recapturing the UFC bantamweight title from the dynamic TJ Dillashaw in the process. Several months later, Cruz successfully defended his recently reclaimed title opposite an old rival in Urijah Faber. Now, the bantamweight champion appears to be closing in on a title fight with brick-fisted 25-year-old Cody Garbrandt. The two are rumored for a scrap at UFC 207.

Cormier, meanwhile, was last seen in July when he defeated middleweight legend Anderson Silva in a three-round, non-title light heavyweight bout. Silva served as a last minute replacement for troubled interim champion Jon Jones. At the moment, Cormier’s next title challenge remains a mystery, though it will certainly be one of two men: Jones, who he lost to back in 2015, or Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, who defeated later the same year.

How do you think Cruz and Cormier will do as color commentators? Sound off in the comments, PENN nation!