Dricus du Plessis’ split-decision win sparks Jon Anik’s MMA negativity rant
Dricus du Plessis claimed the UFC middleweight title via split decision on Saturday night: and the fallout lit a fuse under Jon Anik.
The veteran UFC play-by-play commentator aired his frustrations on the *Anik & Florian Podcast* Wednesday, calling out the “malice and disrespect” from fans after the closely scored main event at UFC 297 in Toronto.
Du Plessis (21-4) outlasted Sean Strickland (28-6) in a scrappy, tactical war on 26 January 2025. All three judges scored the fight 48-47: two for Du Plessis, one for Strickland. Thirteen media members on MMADecisions.com favored Du Plessis, while ten scored it for Strickland.
UFC CEO Dana White said he thought Strickland should’ve won. The split verdict touched off a wave of online arguments, which Anik said crossed into abuse.
Anik, 45, has called UFC fights since 2012 and led broadcasts since 2017. He told listeners he’s “growing tired” of the sport’s “lowest common denominator,” singling out social-media vitriol after close decisions.
“Even if you and I both thought Dricus Du Plessis won the fight, we try to present that information respectfully,” Anik said. “But when I go onto X or YouTube comments, it seems like a lot of these fans are just in attack mode.”
He name-checked Demetrious Johnson and Kenny Florian as fellow observers who saw the fight for Du Plessis, yet still slammed the broader hostility that followed the result.
Anik didn’t just vent. He warned the negativity could push him out of MMA before 2026. “Those of you suggesting there’s any bias or you don’t like me,” he said, “well, you’ll probably get your fucking wish come 2026.”
The outburst landed in a week when Du Plessis’ victory already dominated fight-week chatter. Anik’s comments added a meta layer: the new champion’s triumph now fuels debates not just about scorecards, but about the culture surrounding them.
Du Plessis, 35, now holds the UFC middleweight strap. His first defense could come against a returning Israel Adesanya or a top contender like Khamzat Chimaev.
Anik’s future, meanwhile, hangs in the balance. He’s hinted at leaving MMA for “pro football,” a jab at the relentless negativity that now shadows close fights: and by extension, the athletes who win them.