Jon Anik contemplating leaving UFC over social media attacks: ‘I’ve had it’

Jon Anik contemplating leaving UFC over social media attacks: ‘I’ve had it’

UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik is considering leaving the UFC over online attacks following the UFC 297 main event decision.  

Dricus Du Plessis captured the UFC middleweight title by defeating Sean Strickland in the UFC 297 main event on Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada.  Like with all close fights, people scored the fight differently.  Anik and podcast co-host and former UFC fighter Kenny Florian both scored the fight for Du Plessis.  

In the aftermath, Anik’s social media feeds and YouTube channel have been filled with attacks from Strickland fans over the decision.  Anik and Florian weren’t the only ones who scored the UFC 297 main event for Du Plessis.  Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo did as well.  Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker also scored the fight for Du Plessis, among others.  

The online attacks have Anik considering leaving the UFC.

“I am growing tired of this MMA space a little bit, and just the morass of negativity when there is a close fight,” Anik said on the Anik and Florian Podcast on YouTube. “Because even if you and I both thought Dricus Du Plessis won the fight, we try to present that information respectfully. And when I go onto X or I go to our YouTube comments, it seems like a lot of these fans are just in attack mode. And I don’t know if these fans are casual fans or not.”

“I appreciate the passion, but I’m getting to a point at 45 years of age where I don’t know how much time I have left in this MMA space,” Anik continued. “If I go do pro football, I’m not necessarily gonna be dealing with this lowest common denominator all the time. I don’t know, man. I just feel like there’s a lot of malice and disrespect from the fan base.”

Related: Dricus Du Plessis reflects on championship win over Sean Strickland

“Don’t take it from me. Demetrious Johnson and Kenny Florian thought ‘DDP’ won the fight. I’ve just been very off-put with the negativity that has permeated my feed since Saturday night, and I’m just not sure how much longer I have left in this space — honestly. Those of you suggesting that there’s any bias or you don’t like me, well, you’ll probably get your f—–g wish come 2026, because honestly, at this point, I’ve had it.”