Jon Anik Applauds New York City Fight Week Despite NYC-Boston Rivalry
· Yahoo Sports
The UFC is back in the Big Apple, with UFC 334 taking place at Madison Square Garden, and Jon Anik is taking in all the festivities in New York City.
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Anik, 48, joined the UFC’s broadcast team in 2011 and has since become a fan favorite. Often working with Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, the Boston native has made some of the most memorable calls in the promotion’s recent history.
10 years since the UFC first hosted an event at the Mecca, the organization has another blockbuster card set for November 14. Given the event’s magnitude, Anik told Forbes what sets New York apart from other fight weeks.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Jon Anik introduces Tyson Fury during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLC“For a job like mine, there’s no such thing as over-preparation,” Anik shared. “This has become an incredible annual showcase in November for the UFC. Even for a year when we went to the White House, this is the fight card that appears to get so much attention.”
“The vibe, energy, and overall buzz that is unique to this city. For many of us in the UFC, we’ve gotten to travel the world. But New York feels unique and new every time you come here because the buzz is so palpable. “
Despite the sporting rivalry between New York and his hometown Boston, Anik continued to applaud being in Madison Square Garden. He also acknowledged the fanbase’s attitude towards the November events.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 10: (L-R) Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit pose for photos at Times Square on November 10, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michelle Farsi/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLC“The Boston Celtics fan in me is upset that for the first time in a long time, I have to look up at a brand new New York Knicks championship banner,” Anik said. “But other than that, I’m very excited to be here.”
“It feels like the fanbase congregates in New York even if they’re priced out and they can’t be in the building. They come to absorb everything our fight week has to offer.”
The heavyweight title bout between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit headlines UFC 334. The card also features the legendary collision course between two legendary fighters, Amanda Nunes and Kalya Harrison, for the women’s bantamweight strap.
Nunes retired from the UFC following her win against Irene Aldana in June 2023. Over three years later, she makes her return to the Octagon to face her former teammate in Harrison.
“With respect to Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko and other great champions, this singularly is the biggest fight in women’s MMA,” Anik said. “Additionally, it’s the most interesting stylistic matchup we can have.”
“Amanda Nunes, the consensus greatest of all time, has been away [for over three years]. A lot of question marks surround her, but when she’s on, we know what she’s capable of.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Opponents Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes pose during the UFC It's On Seasonal Press Conference at T-Mobile Arena on December 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLC“Kayla Harrison, two-time Olympic Gold medalist. To then do what she has done in the UFC is spectacular,” Anik continued. "Her mental fortitude is truly the stuff of legends. That’s why you can argue, no matter what happens on Saturday, she is the greatest combat sports athlete, men or women.”
“If she can add a capstone to her career by beating Amanda, her already established legacy will be further embedded. This fight deserves a two-week Super Bowl buildup.”
The veteran broadcaster also raved about the UFC and IBM debuting the corner enthusiasm technology at UFC 334. IBM became the UFC’s official global AI partner in 2024.
With the partnership looking to enhance sports engagement and storytelling, their latest innovation will bring fans closer to the Octagon by analyzing the interactions between fighters and their corners.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 14: (L-R) Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and Daniel Cormier anchor the broadcast during the UFC 334 event at Madison Square Garden on November 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLC“UFC and IBM are constantly trying to take the broadcast to the next level with stats, features, things the fanbase can lean into and extract useful information from,” Anik said.
“This AI-powered feature can analyze the real-time audio of the corners and will add a lot to the broadcast. How much energy is coming from the corner? What relative amount of energy is coming from the corner? And is there tone, excitement, or deflation?”
“I think this corner enthusiasm is gonna take things to a new level.”
This article was originally published on Forbes.com