Jon Anik walks back on comments about leaving the UFC after fan controversy: “This is my life’s work”

Don’t expect to see UFC commentator Jon Anik going anywhere, anytime soon.

The UFC 297 main event featuring Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis was as controversial as it gets. While the fight itself was very close, many fans were angry at ‘Stillknocks’ getting the judges’ nod. Many on social media slammed those who agreed with the decision, including Jon Anik.

The UFC commentator agreed with the split-decision win for Du Plessis, which resulted in a lot of fan backlash. For a moment, it seemingly got to Jon Anik. Late last month, the longtime analyst admitted that he was thinking about leaving the sport of MMA, due to the toxic fanbase. While many supported Anik, others, including Sean Strickland, slammed his remarks.

Later, Jon Anik released an apology for his comments in a brief social media post. While many felt that the gesture was not needed, and possibly even forced by the UFC, that wasn’t the case. In an interview with MMAFighting earlier this week, he opened up on the situation at length.

There, Jon Anik responded to a lot of the backlash and stated that he didn’t have any plans of leaving the UFC. While he got emotional responding to negative fans online, those are just a vocal minority. Furthermore, while he doesn’t see himself covering MMA into his 60s or anything like that, he has no current plans to do anything else. Well, besides maybe the NFL.

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Image via @ufc on Instagram (photographer not listed)

Jon Anik opens up on fan controversy following UFC 297 main event

“I think for me as a play-by-play guy, when there are myriad allegations of bias, or people suggesting that there’s a lack of objectivity, I got sensitive to that, but I shouldn’t,” Jon Anik stated in the interview. “I’m certainly not sensitive to personal attacks and things like that. I really need to not be sensitive to allegations of bias, because 95 percent of the fan base felt like it was an even call and actually felt like at least half the fan base felt like Dricus du Plessis won the fight. But as Bill Belichick would say, it kind of is what it is.” (h/t MMAFighting)

He continued, “…I hope they extend my contract at the end of this contract, October 2026. If you want the exact date, I’ll be 15 years in, man. This is my life’s work. I’m not going to be that guy who sticks around forever and prevents a young guy from getting an opportunity. I’d be very surprised if I’m doing this in to my sixties, even if it is the greatest job on earth. But I have no intention of leaving in 2026.”

“I think for a guy like me who grew up a New England Patriots season ticket holder in the 1980s when they were the laughing stock of the NFL, there will always be that NFL pull.” Jon Anik concluded. “But I don’t know if I can say it any more clearly, I have the job I want.”

What do you make of these comments from UFC commentator Jon Anik?