The UFC held a press conference for Saturday's PPV in Las Vegas at which they introduced the newest UFC employee, Jon Anik, formerly of ESPN's MMA Live and ESPN Radio. Anik, 33, is a professional journalist who has been covering the UFC for ESPN since 2008, in addition to being a play-by-play analyst for Bellator Fighting Championships and appearing in the recent MMA film Warrior. Anik will call fights and host shows for the UFC's expanded programming under the FOX umbrella, including live events on FX and The Ultimate Fighter Live. Goldberg, 46, has been a mainstay with the UFC for many years, and I can't recall him missing a single event, ever. He seems extremely nice and professional. Yet he is one of the most criticized UFC employees by fans, frequently being taken to task for his exaggerations, mistakes, play-calling, and catch phrases. At the last UFC event Goldberg claimed, for some bizarre reason, title challenger Gray Maynard weighed 200-lbs. (45-lbs. over the lightweight title limit), as a recent example.
However annoying Goldie may be, I can't imagine a broadcast without him. I don't think Dana would do him in like that. Maybe right now they'll use Anik as sort of a sideline reporter and a locker room reporter?
It seems to me they are just trying to expand their company reach, and an additional announcer is needed for the growth. Goldberg ain't going anywhere.
Anik's broadcast partner will be a current or former UFC fighter... candidates should include Kenny Florian, Stephan Bonnar, Randy Couture, Pat Miletich, Jens Pulver, Bas Rutten, and I guess Frank Mir, all guys that have done broadcast work previously.
