What Did Jon Anik Do Before the UFC?
What Did Jon Anik Do Before the UFC?
By Jason Bolton June 10, 2024 08:16
A well known figure in the MMA community, Jon Anik has managed an impressive path to his role with the UFC.
Before he ever had anything to do with the UFC, his resume as a pro is littered with achievements and varied existences character that how he went about his business forms.
Early Life and Education
Born in Boston and raised in Wellesley, MA, his love for sports was ingrained from the start in a family that held its allegiance to the Boston sports scene in high regard.
Anik is a graduate of the Rivers School in Weston, MA, where he played three sports and edited the high school newspaper. After completing high school, he went on to major in political journalism at Gettysburg College.
First Break in Sports Broadcasting
Anik began his career in sports broadcasting in September 2003, when he accepted a job with Sporting News Radio's Boston affiliate.
He moved from update announcer to net as afternoon drive host on "The Diehards" to eventually program director of the station.
That endeavor has even stretched over to co-hosting 'The Mouthpiece Boxing Show,' and soon his work verged into the digital media landscape with ESPN.
ESPN and MMA Live
In 2007 Anik moved to ESPN Digital Media, where he served as host of ESPN. com’s ‘MMA Live.’ His articulation of MMA hosting and analysis made him one of the most respected voices in the MMA community. Which, later, allowed him to transition to the UFC.
UFC and Career Transition
Jon Anik turned a corner in 2011 when he transitioned to the broadcast booth with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
That role led to a wide variety of duties for the UFC, from play by play for assorted UFC events to studio desk hosting to eventually the position of the UFC's lead play-by-play voice on PPV.
His move to the UFC was a pivotal point in his broadcasting career.
Milestones and Achievements
Anik had covered live events prior to joining the UFC, but the switch to the particular setting of a live UFC broadcast brought different obstacles.
It was his love and dedication to mixed martial arts that led Anik to start a career calling fights in a sport that had previously piqued his interest. This further cemented his standing as a notable figure within the MMA community, and it led to his hiring as a commentator for the UFC.
All in all
Jon Anik's path to the UFC is an example of the grit and flexibility one must have to make it in the world of sports broadcasting.
He took an early step in his journey to the UFC through his childhood playing sports, and his varied positions in sports media show his sports-loving heart but a head set on becoming one of the lead voices in MMA.
Moving on to the UFC was a big step in his career, he proved that he can adapt and make his expertise known in the field of MMA broadcasting.
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