“I made some regrettable comments…” Jon Anik apologizes for calling out MMA fans as ‘lowest common denominator’ after online abuse

Jon Anik issues statement addressing his recent comments about the MMA fanbase.

“I made some regrettable comments…” Jon Anik apologizes for calling out MMA fans as ‘lowest common denominator’ after online abuse

Jon Anik issues statement regarding his recent comments of the MMA fanbase (via Instagram/MerrylandsSoccer)

Recently, UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik made the headlines for his remarks about the MMA fans. He called them the ‘Lowest Common Denominator.’ However, Anik uttered the words in frustration and didn’t really mean it. Further, he even contemplated retirement because of the negativity he received from the MMA fans. Soon, his words went viral on the internet. Now, Anik issued a statement and apologized to the fans.

In his recent Instagram post, Jon Anik addressed his comments in his podcast ‘Anik and Florian’ and acknowledged he was in the wrong. As such, he explained he was in a heightened emotional state and didn’t mean to attack the MMA fans. So, he regretted the words he said and apologized to the fans. Further, he promised to be more responsible on the microphone. Here is what he said:

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.  I need to be more responsible on an open microphone. To those MMA fans whom I’ve offended, I am sorry. That was not my intention.
Jon Anik (via Instagram)
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It all began when some of the MMA fans hurled on Anik’s social platforms to trash him regarding his take on the UFC 297 main event, Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis’s fight. Although Du Plessis won the fight on the judges’ scorecard, many fans disagreed. So, fans rushed on his socials to bash him when Anik claimed the South African won the fight fairly.

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Jon Anik made his UFC commentary debut in 2012 and has since been an integral part of the UFC broadcast team. He served as the main play-by-play commentator and often helped the UFC with weigh-in events and much more.

Jon Anik believes his accessibility was the reason for the hate he received

Jon Anik, in the Anik and Florian Podcast, vented out his frustration on the toxic comments he received from the MMA fans. It went to the point where Anik couldn’t handle his emotions and called the fans ‘The Lowest Common Denominator.’ Since he felt it was a part of his job to access the thoughts of the MMA world and present them on air, he reckoned he couldn’t just ignore them.

Jon Anik analyzes the reason for the toxic comments he received
Jon Anik analyzes the reason for the toxic comments he received (via Instagram)

So, Jon Anik analyzed the reason for the hatred he received instead of ignoring it. As such, He drew comparisons to his contemporaries like Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan. Finally, he claimed his being accessible to the fan base was the reason. Here is what he said:

I try to be accessible and engage with fans, especially on X, and some of my broadcast partners—Joe Rogan chief among them—their profile is so high, and they are so famous that they can’t possibly engage with the fans on a regular basis...what I’m finding is that 90 percent of what I am sifting through is negative, and a lot of those comments are said in an antagonistic, attacking type of way.
Jon Anik (via Anik and Florian)

Although Anik received hatred because of being accessible, in his recent statement, he acknowledged he would continue to do so. Moreover, he apologized to the fans regarding his derogatory comments. The UFC commentator would next be seen in UFC 298.

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