What would you do if you found yourself in charge of the UFC? This intriguing question has sparked discussions among mixed martial arts enthusiasts, who shared their ideas in a recent segment on Bloody Elbow. The suggestions poured in, ranging from enhancing fighter compensation and increasing bonus awards to implementing stricter penalties for eye pokes and imposing fines on fighters who avoid challenges. The community is brimming with innovative thoughts on how to enhance the UFC experience.
Interestingly, even those within the organization have weighed in, including Jon Anik, the promotion’s leading commentator.
- LATEST NEWS: Former UFC star Gable Steveson is predicted by an ex-fighter to defeat Tom Aspinall ‘today,’ despite a substantial experience gap (https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/01/17/gable-steveson-predicted-to-beat-tom-aspinall-today-by-ex-ufc-star-despite-huge-experience-gap/)
If you were in Dana White's shoes, which fighter would be the first to go from the UFC roster?
👇 Engage in the conversation; we want your perspective! Click the comment button at the bottom left to share your thoughts.
Jon Anik advocates for a significant overhaul of the UFC's roster to streamline events.
Since stepping into the role of lead play-by-play commentator in 2017, Jon Anik has become a familiar voice in UFC broadcasts, taking over from Mike Goldberg. His extensive tenure gives his opinions considerable weight among fans, especially regarding the adjustments he believes would benefit the organization.
Anik feels that the duration of UFC events is excessive and suggests they could be reduced by a couple of hours. If he were in Dana White's position, he would propose cutting the fight cards down to ten bouts and eliminating 150 fighters from the roster.
"I believe our primary challenge lies in the length of our events," Anik expressed during a recent appearance on the Spinnin Backfist MMA Show (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMcKwYHSMSY). "We should aim for 10 or 11 fights rather than the current 15.
"Imagine reducing events to five or six hours instead of eight; I personally think that would be more acceptable. We place significant demands on our fans—eight-hour events across 41 Saturdays each year, right?
"There are numerous stakeholders to consider, such as our television partners around the globe, and with a roster exceeding 600 fighters, signing 50 new competitors for the Contender Series annually feels less than ideal," he continued.
"If I could initiate one change—and perhaps this might seem self-serving since I'm a broadcaster who struggles to fathom how we manage back-to-back Super Bowls every time we go live—I would release 150 fighters from the roster. I would limit cards to 10 fights, transforming them into a much more digestible and enjoyable sporting experience."
- LATEST NEWS: In the ongoing debate of boxing legends, fans overwhelmingly declare one heavyweight champion as the greatest of all time—Muhammad Ali, leaving Mike Tyson in the dust (https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/01/17/muhammad-ali-or-mike-tyson-fans-crown-this-boxing-legend-the-heavyweight-goat-by-a-landslide/)
Looking ahead, Anik is set to return to ringside for a full night of action at the T-Mobile Arena on January 24. He will take the helm for the UFC 324 broadcast, reuniting with color commentators Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier in Las Vegas. This trio will continue their dynamic partnership as the organization embarks on a new chapter with Paramount+ in 2026, and they will also welcome CBS anchor Kate Scott as the desk host.
As the year kicks off, Anik is expected to be busy, also slated to call the action a week later at UFC 325 (https://bloodyelbow.com/tag/ufc-325/) in Sydney, Australia.
Join Our Newsletter
Stay updated with a weekly summary of our top content from Bloody Elbow delivered directly to your inbox.
