Jon Anik now has to have legendary status when it comes to being a UFC commentator. But even he isn’t safe from the foul air of controversy. Recently, Anik spoke up about the negativity that can surround a pay-per-view and the UFC in general. While he had a good point, fans didn’t enjoy it very much.

Anik has seen a lot and heard a lot live and online. And sometimes it takes a toll even on someone as professional, beloved, and experienced as him. Was he wrong when he objected that the fandom can get a bit aggressive at times? Only fans and professionals can be the judge. But is it too late?

The aftermath of his statement got to Jon Anik

In a recent episode of his podcast, Jon Anik admitted that he’s growing a bit tired of the MMA scene as a whole. This came in the aftermath of UFC 297, where Sean Strickland lost his title defense against Dricus Du Plessis. A razor-thin fight like the UFC 297 main event was bound to stir up debates, and it did.

While Anik wasn’t speaking of a particular matchup and its reaction, he was still someone who was there to see everything unfold. While some had Du Plessis winning it, others had ‘Tarzan’. Does this warrant hatred? No. Does it happen online anyway? Yes.

“I am growing tired of this MMA space a little bit, and just the morass of negativity when there is a close fight. . .” Anik admitted. And quickly, his statement was met with both support and backlash. And now, he has released an apology for it too. “Last week on my podcast, I was in a heightened emotional state following myriad allegations of bias at UFC 297 and I made some regrettable comments relating to the MMA fan base,” wrote Anik in an Instagram post. “While I was surprised at the extent to which my comments were re-purposed and sensationalized, I need to be more responsible on an open microphone.”

“I am just a fiery, passionate, flawed, empathetic guy and sometimes my emotions lead the dance. To those MMA fans whom I’ve offended, I am sorry. That was not my intention.” Many consider it a shame that someone as accomplished and loved as Anik has to apologize for feeling something completely valid. Do you agree with the man who sits next to Joe Rogan?

The champion who defended Anik, and the former champ, who didn’t

Giving your take in a world as rough as that of MMA can have its own toll. And with many raging against Anik, it was the fighters that came together to hold him up. One of them was Dricus Du Plessis, the man who took the middleweight belt home after defeating Sean Strickland. Others like,  Gilbert Burns, Frankie Edgar, and brand new women’s bantamweight champion, Raquel Pennington also stood by Anik’s words.

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Meanwhile, Strickland himself wasn’t very happy with Anik and his remarks. He called him out for making a lot of money off his job and pointed out that he has the paycheck and the job because of the MMA fans he had upset. Fans, as usual, rooted for the former champ. Do you think Strickland is in the wrong here? Let us know in the comments.

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