By Kneebar News

We admit it. Whether he’s doing play-by-play on UFC broadcasts or hosting the Anik & Florian Podcast, we love Jon Anik.

Not every single thing, of course. We have pet peeves. Only God and George St-Pierre are perfect.

But no one does a better job smoothing the UFC’s rough edges than silver-tongued Jon Anik. So let’s show him some appreciation, shall we?

7 THINGS WE LOVE

1. He’s a wordsmith. Jon Anik is perhaps best known for a phrase he didn’t invent, “One More Sleep.” But words are his superpower. The Massachusetts native’s seemingly effortless deployment of cool, catchy phrases could shame a jazz-radio DJ. In Anik-land, a fighter isn’t on a win streak. Rather, “his Wikipedia page is just one green stripe after the next.” A concussed fighter isn’t staggering, but “drunk driving.”
2. His voice is liquid gold. Anik’s smooth, confident delivery is a joy to hear. A 2021 profile in Sports Illustrated described the 45-year-old’s voice as “mellifluous,” which not only is accurate but coincidentally sounds like one of the SAT words Anik weaves into his commentary. The contrast with Joe Rogan’s phlegmy delivery could hardly be more acute. No surprise then that Anik’s high-school classmates chose him to deliver their graduation speech.
3. He’s still passionate about MMA. A part of the mixed martial arts landscape since 2008, when ESPN.com named him host of MMA Live, Anik’s enthusiasm for the sport hasn’t dimmed. Whether buzzing with Monster Energy excitement about an upcoming pay-per-view or erupting in a gobsmacked “He’s out cold!” after a flush knockout, the charismatic Gettysburg College alum is not on autopilot. His enthusiasm is as real as his scalp is smooth.
4. He’s charmingly insecure. You can’t anchor hundreds of UFC broadcasts or host 500 podcast episodes without being confident AF, but Anik is never cocky. He frequently reminds listeners that he was a “fat Jewish kid” before slimming down, and he acknowledges he couldn’t fight his way out of a yoga class. And though always working to get better at his job, the twin brother of fellow MMA commentator Jason Anik is not afraid to criticize his own work. “I hope my mom isn’t watching,” he joked once. “She’d be cringing at my commentary.”
5. He’s loyal, but not a total homer. Anik is quick with a compliment and tends to tease rather than criticize fighters and colleagues. But he doesn’t shy from critiquing a ref or judge. And while the father of three won’t bite the hand that feeds him – Dana White, UFC matchmakers, and ESPN offer ample opportunity – he occasionally will nibble.
6. He comes prepared. Like fighters, Anik doesn’t enter a stadium without having put in the work. The former sportswriter and sports-radio host reportedly maintains a handwritten “fighter-card library of approximately 6,000 athletes.” And as he told the New York Times, “in some walks of life, I think people would say you could over-prepare, but I’ve found that in this job you really can’t.”
7. He cares about the athletes. To Anik, fighters aren’t just widgets on fight cards. Take “The Killa Gorilla.” Deep? You wouldn’t think so, judging from the nickname. But Anik tells us middleweight contender Jared Cannonier is a “great human being” and a “very thoughtful guy, well-read guy, spiritual guy.” And Anik is not afraid to talk about touchy subjects like CTE, or the trade-off between crowd-pleasing slugfests and a fighter’s career longevity or financial future.

Much as we adore The Aniklyzer – blame ChatGPT, not us – we do have a few micro-gripes. 

3 THINGS THAT BUG US

1. His “Pronunciation of the Week” feature. The Anik & Florian Podcast is a must-listen, but we can’t skip through its “Pronunciation of the week” feature fast enough. We implore you, Jon: ditch it.
2. His Ray Longo fetish. Many podcasts feature regular contributors, and Longo is a good choice. A top MMA coach with an endearing Long Island accent, the 66-year-old is a stand-up guy who wants the best for his fighters. But if it seems like most Anik & Florian episodes begin with several minutes of flattery about Longo’s jet-black mop, blue eyes, or deep tan, you’re not imagining it. Anik’s incessant praise comes off as uncomfortably fan-boyish.
3. His frequent use of “seminal.” Whether it’s a seminal moment in a fight or a seminal moment in an athlete’s career, “seminal” is one of Anik’s go-to words. He’s not using it incorrectly. But does Jon know the word’s etymology? “Seminal” originates from semen. So when describing two sweaty men grappling – or even more so, two women engaging in combat – we urge Anik to explore synonyms.

# # #