The Voice of the UFC | Jon Anik

Jon Anik is the voice of the UFC. Before calling the biggest fights in the world, he was a young broadcaster at ESPN trying to find his place in sports media. Then Dana White offered him a chance to help build the UFC during one of the most important growth periods in the company's history. In this conversation, Jon shares the journey from ESPN to the UFC, what it was like earning Dana White's trust, working alongside Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, dealing with public criticism, and the preparation required to perform at the highest level for more than a decade. We also discuss the upcoming UFC event at the White House, the legendary Sphere event in Las Vegas, sports betting, Boston sports, and why repetition and discipline matter more than talent. This is a fascinating look behind the curtain of the UFC from the man who has called it all. Thank you to our sponsors Rho Nutrition: https://rhonutrition.com/ Code "RIDEOUT" Ken’s book now available here: https://www.theothersideofhard.com/ Chapters (00:00) Meeting Jon Anik (00:26) Fame and Work Ethic (02:24) Working With Dana (04:30) Dana’s Generosity Stories (06:49) Broadcast Feedback Loop (10:28) Crafting Signature Calls (12:40) Prep and Memorization (14:01) Early Career Origins (18:31) ESPN to UFC Breakthrough (21:30) Leaving ESPN for UFC (24:52) White House Event Hype (28:28) Sphere and Live Venues (29:45) Music Tangent and Rogan (31:03) Rogan’s Generosity (32:45) Broadcast Chemistry (33:38) Handling Online Hate (36:06) Asking for Favors (38:52) Boston vs New York Fandom (43:17) Red Sox Reality Check (44:33) Twin Brother’s Career (46:10) Alt Combat Sports Rules (48:46) Gina vs Ronda Rewind (52:33) Women’s MMA Evolution (55:25) Betting and Politics (01:00:16) Broadcast Booth Dynamics (01:02:41) Wrap Up and Subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices