Jon Anik ‘would love nothing extra’ than UFC matchmaker job

Jon Anik is comfy and proud to be in his place as UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator, however that doesn’t imply there aren’t alternate ambitions.

After beginning with the corporate in 2011, Anik has been on the helm of UFC’s greatest occasion broadcasts since taking up pay-per-view calls from longtime staple Mike Goldberg in early 2018. Throughout that run, he has grow to be a vital a part of the stay occasion expertise for viewers.

Anik has brazenly mentioned that working play-by-play won’t be a lifetime place, and one potential position he desires of touchdown down the road is that of a UFC matchmaker. Anik admits he doesn’t have all of the {qualifications} wanted to do the job on the highest degree proper now, however that sort of job is one he confessed to fantasizing about.

“For me, as a diehard skilled sports activities fan, it’s the absolute dream to be in operations, or to be a common supervisor,” Anik informed MMA Junkie. “I’d love nothing greater than to be supplied a matchmaker job and to place the microphone down. I simply assume I’m a bit bit underqualified, whereas additionally attempting to remain in my lane.

“I don’t assume I wouldn’t have the ability to do it. I’d need to make investments myself in that world and be taught from Mick (Maynard) and Sean (Shelby). Definitely, I’ve gained invaluable perception, having referred to as as many UFC fights and having been by means of as many fighter conferences. It’s to not recommend I don’t have credentials that I don’t assume may assist that course of. However I’ve not essentially watched MMA from a scouting perspective. I haven’t negotiated contracts. There’s simply sure issues that I feel in a broad sense go into the job that I’m underqualified for, however yeah, in the event that they need to change my job title and usher in someone else to crack a mic – I’m listening.”

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Anik, 46, stated he doesn’t know what his future holds. The promotion introduced in October 2022 that he’d signed a brand new four-year contract for his lead play-by-play place and different duties, so a transfer behind the scenes as matchmaker can be a dramatic shift.

The fervour for the game that beams out of Anik when he’s on digicam, doing interviews, internet hosting his “Anik & Florian Podcast,” or some other endeavor is simple, although, and he’s assured that keenness would translate into an government place.

“Solely God is aware of (what occurs sooner or later),” Anik stated. “I’ve the job that I would like. Who is aware of what my relative happiness can be if I used to be in a unique capability? I’m simply talking in broad phrases. Being an government or someone in operations and expertise relations for a serious sports activities group or promotion or crew, is tremendously interesting to me.”