Jon Anik on GSP vs. O’Malley, Rousey, UFC 292, Jones-Adesanya, more

“It’s been fairly wild, proper? We’ve gotten again to the worldwide flare with plenty of the pay-per-views. It started in Rio. We discovered ourselves in Perth (Australia) after which to London. So for me, I believe that’s my greatest takeaway from 2023, is that we are actually, as soon as once more, not simply extending our tentacles internationally, however bringing the large exhibits again to those main markets that basically can assist it. We’re going to Sydney in September, so, it’s an enormous 12 months for the UFC. There have been plenty of nice moments thus far.”

“I’m a local Bostonian, so it’s exhausting for me to not heart on Aug. 19, UFC 292 in Boston, Massachusetts. There’s so many various fascinating storylines main into that pay-per-view, chief amongst them, the (bantamweight) champion Aljamain Sterling continues to be battling accidents. I noticed him on the UFC PI (Wednesday) and this isn’t in any respect occurring on his phrases. It’s only a very fascinating storyline main as much as that major occasion. So I do have my eyes on UFC 292. (And) I believe we’re all fascinated to see precisely what the headlining act goes to be for UFC 293 in Sydney.”

“It’s simply thrilling to be on this sport at this cut-off date. You already know, oftentimes individuals say to me, ‘Oh, you recognize, Conor McGregor and Ronda (Rousey) are gone. When’s the following famous person coming via the door?’ They emerge on a regular basis – even my man Chepe Mariscal a couple of weeks in the past. I’m clearly excited (about MMA). I’ve my dream job. I’m simply attempting to carry it down.”

“Completely (I used to be glad to see Jones and Adesanya bury the hatchet). Actually as a commentator, while you’re calling fights in a broad sense, you want there to be warmth and friction on a battle. Promotionally, I believe it’s simpler to construct and I believe simply as a sports activities fan, you want a few of that warmth.

“However I’ve softened in my superior age now, 45 years outdated, and that triggered my feelings simply to see two guys that possibly verbally have mentioned issues about one another previously that weren’t ideally suited, to see them bury the hatchet and have that second – two of the best of all time. That was fairly candy to see.”

“In all probability Matt Brown towards Erik Silva in Cincinnati in 2014. Now, I like that battle between Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva and Mark Hunt (in) Brisbane, Australia, in 2013. However our matchmaker, Mick Maynard, softly jogged my memory that ‘Bigfoot’ popped after the battle. So possibly that one’s not getting within the Corridor of Fame.

“I do consider Matt Brown, on the deserves of his physique of labor, may discover himself within the Trendy Period Wing of the Corridor of Fame. However I do suppose when you’re going to take one in every of Matt Brown’s fights and use that because the conduit via which he will get into the Corridor of Fame, Matt Brown vs. Erik Silva 2014, top-of-the-line fights I’ve ever known as.”

“Jim Miller’s bought much more than wins. He’s bought plenty of appearances, he’s bought plenty of finishes. He’s additionally finished it in what I consider is the perfect division within the UFC, 155 kilos. They inform me in my line of labor that availability is the perfect capacity, and Jim Miller has been accessible each step of the way in which. However while you probably retire because the UFC’s all-time wins chief, I completely suppose Jim Miller has a case. You guys know our Corridor of Fame’s a little bit bit funky with the 4 completely different wings. We’re going to discover a approach to get Jim Miller in, DC, if it’s the very last thing I do.”

“I used to be very emotional when Daniel Cormier was entering into. That was a novel expertise for me simply because he’s my broadcast companion and expensive good friend. However the athlete that I’m most starstruck on this whole roster is Jose Aldo Jr., ‘The King of Rio.’ He’s headlining this class right here tonight, and I get anxious round him. Twenty years into this enterprise, I nonetheless get anxious round Jose Aldo Jr. (I’m) very excited to see him take his rightful place within the Corridor of Fame. He’ll be dripping with class all the way in which up there. And, in fact, Anderson Silva and (Donald) ‘Cowboy’ (Cerrone) and everyone else. It’s a particular class to make sure.”

“I truly made the error of consuming some freezing-cold water backstage earlier than I inducted the battle between Dan Henderson and (Mauricio) ‘Shogun’ Rua. And I’m not encouraging your viewers to go to UFC Struggle Move and test this out. However dude. Like, the music began enjoying and saved my ass as a result of my vocal chords froze and I couldn’t utter the identify ‘Dan Henderson.’ So it’s all the time emotional up there. After I begin to discuss Jens Pulver, even in rehearsal, I really feel goosebumps approaching my arms. However that Hendo-Shogun, that second was an absolute catastrophe. Yeah. Go test it out.”

“I’d encourage it, in some half, however I’d even be hypocritical if I mentioned to you she ought to come again and battle for the title simply due to this Amanda Nunes emptiness. Prior to now, I’ve mentioned aloud I didn’t love that Henry Cejudo bought to come back again and reduce the whole line of all these bantamweight contenders that had been within the gauntlet, that had been within the USADA pool for 3 years, proper? I like a meritocracy, and there are positively worthwhile contenders – Raquel Pennington and Juliana Peña chief amongst them. So, as a blended martial arts fan, I get a little bit bit uneasy when somebody comes again having not competed and simply cuts the road. But when anybody deserves to chop the road, it’s in all probability Ronda.”