Sean
Strickland has slammed
UFC commentator Jon Anik for voicing his frustration with the
mixed martial arts fan base.

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Anik recently revealed his heightened frustration with MMA fans due
to the negativity he received following Strickland’s UFC 297
title loss against Dricus Du
Plessis. Strickland dropped a closely-contested split decision
against “Stillknocks” in a fight that was viewed as a toss-up.
According to Anik, MMA fans responded with hatred no matter how
objectively analysts tried to explain Du Plessis’ victory. The UFC
color commentator even went to the extent of teasing a career
switch to the NFL.

“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 & Florian podcast. “Because even if you and I
both thought Dricus Du
Plessis won the fight, we try to present that information
respectfully. When I go onto X or I go to our YouTube comments, it
just seems like a lot of these fans are just in attack mode. I
don’t know if these fans are casual fans or not, but I appreciate
the passion. But I’m getting to the point at 45 years of age where
I don’t know how much time I have left in this MMA space because if
I go do pro football, I’m not going to necessarily 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
fanbase. We can disagree. Don’t take it from me. Demetrious
Johnson and Kenny
Florian thought DDP won the fight. I don’t know. I’ve just been
very off-put with the negativity that has permeated my feed since
Saturday night. I’m just not sure how much longer I have in this
space.”

According to Strickland, Anik should probably consider a switch to
the NFL given his frustration with MMA fans.

“What [I’d] say to Jon Anik calling [MMA] fans ‘the lowest common
denominator:’ These people are the way you have a paycheck, and you
make way more than most,” Strickland wrote. “Maybe the NFL is a
better choice for you than MMA. Also, you guys are a bunch of
savage c—ts. I’m here for it.”

Anik has since issued an apology to MMA fans, taking responsibility
for his comments while also saying that they were
sensationalized.

“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,” Anik wrote on
Instagram. “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.

“So much work goes into the execution of just one UFC pay-per-view,
so it can be tough when my integrity on the broadcast is called
into question. That doesn’t excuse my retort. 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. For 12 years, I’ve prided myself on being
accessible to the fan base, and that will continue. I’ve learned a
lot over the last 48 hours. On to Anaheim…”

Multiple fighters have come out in support of Anik amid the
backlash from fans:

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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