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Video: Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier, UFC broadcast team provide all of your meme needs

With the UFC forced to hold live events without fans due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the promotion’s broadcast team is tasked with helping to create an exciting environment for viewers around the world.

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be a problem for the likes of Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier, and others.

But in current times, it seems the commentators have become as much as a part of the entertainment as the fights, themselves, and the UFC has keyed on that fact by putting a camera on the broadcast team as they call fights. In use for the past few years, the camera has given us a host of memorable moments that have already been memorialized in memedom. Take this classic, for instance:

I have seen this one before. https://t.co/z9w5EjPEYJ

— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) December 21, 2020

But that classic moment from UFC 248 was hardly the only notable commentator reaction from 2020. Fortunately, the UFC has gathered up some of their favorites that you can check out in the video above. Surely some of these other moments deserve their place in the annals of social media.

Jon Anik straight flexing

Daniel Cormier’s mind is blown

Begging for a caption

Can’t forget ‘The Irish Dragon’

Right back at ya, kid

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/video-jon-anik-daniel-cormier-ufc-broadcast-memes

Anthony Pettis announces UFC departure, free agency exploration: ‘I promise I am not done’

Anthony Pettis is no longer a UFC fighter.

On Tuesday, Pettis (24-10 MMA), a former UFC lightweight champion, announced he has departed the promotion in favor of free agency exploration.

Pettis, 33, had been with the promotion since the WEC merger at the beginning of 2011. He fought out the final fight on his promotional contract Saturday when he defeated Alex Morono at UFC Fight Night 183.

In a lengthy statement issued on social media, Pettis thanked the fans and UFC staff for their years of help and support in making his dreams come true. Pettis didn’t reveal what his next move is but said he’s not done.

“Almost 12 years with this company and so many amazing memories,” Pettis wrote. “From winning my first world title at 23 years old to becoming the UFC world champion at 26 in my hometown. From being on MTV to the cover of the Wheaties box, I am forever grateful for everything I have experienced and accomplished with this company!!!

“Dana – thank you for everything you have done for me. I was just a kid from the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a big dream. You helped me turn thta dream into a reality. THANK YOU!!!

“Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, Reed Harris, Sean Shelby, Dave Sholler, and Burt Watson, you have helped me and impacted my life and career in countless ways. I will be forever thankful. Everyone at the PI, you helped take my game to the next level! Everyone that works behind the scenes, I am so grateful for your tireless work, especially on the road, you have no idea how much you are appreciated. Thank YOU!!!

“Last and most importantly the UFC fans … thank you!!! You gave me energy in every fight. I hope I have been able to you that ANYTHING is possible. I am excited about my future in this sport. I promise I am not done.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you all,

“Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis”

Thank you @ufc @danawhite 🙏👊🤝 pic.twitter.com/pJtBo2Hpxc

— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 23, 2020

Images of Pettis signing paperwork were posted to his Instagram story, though no clarity was provided as to what those papers might be.

Pettis finishes out his UFC tenure with a 10-9 promotional record. He successfully defended his UFC lightweight title once against Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181 in December 2014. In addition to his UFC lightweight title, Pettis captured the WEC lightweight title in December 2010.

Pettis’ brother, Sergio Pettis, departed the UFC in 2019 and signed with Bellator MMA.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/anthony-pettis-leaves-ufc-exploring-free-agency

Dana White confirms three UFC events in eight days upon return to Fight Island

UFC president Dana White for weeks has been teasing a possible return to Fight Island to kick off 2021. On Tuesday, he confirmed those plans with a promotional video on his Instagram channel.

Announcing a contest to promote UFC whiskey sponsor Howler Head, White affirmed that the promotion would hold three events over eight days in its return to Abu Dhabi.

There will be two UFC Fight Night events followed by UFC 257 spanning one week on Fight Island.

The first Fight Night, on Saturday, Jan. 16, features former featherweight champ Max Holloway squaring off with Calvin Kattar. The second Fight Night, on Wednesday, Jan. 20, features a rescheduled bout between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev. On Jan. 23, UFC 257 marks the return of Conor McGregor in a rematch with former interim lightweight titleholder Dustin Poirier.

White re-ignited the sports world following the coronavirus lockdown in the spring of 2020 with a three-event, eight-day stint in Jacksonville, Fla. in May. All of the UFC’s events have since been held either at its own broadcast facility called the Apex in Las Vegas or on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

Though coronavirus vaccinations are underway, experts say it will likely take several months before enough distribution counters the virus, making way for larger gatherings and crowds at live events.

White has insisted he will not welcome crowds back to UFC events until he can once again sell out an entire arena, foregoing partial openings.

This will be the UFC’s third stint on Fight Island, but likely won’t be the promotion’s last stint of the pandemic there.

UFC kicks off 2021 on Fight Island

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dana-white-confirms-three-ufc-events-in-eight-days-upon-return-to-fight-island

Rose Namajunas shoots down idea she doesn’t want to fight for UFC belt

A bout between UFC strawweight champion Weili Zhang and former titleholder Rose Namajunas has long been in the planning, but UFC president Dana White recently said Namajunas doesn’t want to fight for a UFC title.

Namajunas would beg to differ.

“What I’m hearing is Rose does not want a title shot. Rose does not want to fight for a title,” White said in a recent interview with BT Sport.

“I don’t think she (liked the pressure of being a champion). She doesn’t want to fight for the title. So we’ll see how that all plays out.”

Namajunas’s fiancé and coach Pat Barry quickly shot down that idea. Namajunas has also chimed in, particularly taking aim at White’s comment that she doesn’t like the pressure of being a UFC champion.

“Maybe there’s a misconception out there that I’m weak-minded or whatever or, ‘I can’t handle the pressures of being champion,’ or whatever the f— people say,” Namajunas said in a video on her YouTube channel.

“That’s not true. That’s what I live for. I am the pressure cooker.”

She also seemed to be unaware of why White would say that she doesn’t want to fight. Namajunas relayed that she has been training with various people and was about to start working with longtime coach Trevor Wittman again in preparation for her next fight.

“I don’t know if you follow stuff that’s out there in the MMA news, but apparently there’s some confusion going on about my next fight and whatever,” she said.

“I’m not worried about any of that. I’m just ready to fight. So I don’t know what’s going on, but I know that you guys are ready for me to fight, too.”

Rose Namajunas says she is ready to fight

(Video courtesy of Rose Namajunas)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/rose-namajunas-shoots-down-idea-she-doesnt-want-to-fight-for-ufc-belt

UFC Fight Night 183 reactions: Winning and losing fighters on social media

Since the early days when the sport was anything but a mainstream endeavor, the MMA industry has thrived and survived through various websites, forums, and – perhaps most importantly – social-media platforms.

Fighters interact with fans, each other and many more through the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.

Following Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 183 in Las Vegas, several of the winning and losing fighters, along with their coaches, training partners or family members, took to social media to react to the event or share a message with supporters.

Check out some of those reactions.

The defeated

The defeated: Antonio Arroyo

A post shared by Antonio Arroyo (@arroyo_ufc)

The defeated: Gillian Robertson

A post shared by Gillian Robertson (@savage_ufc)

The defeated: Sijara Eubanks

A post shared by Sijara “SarJ” Eubanks (@sarjncharge)

The defeated: Alex Morono

A post shared by Alex Morono (@alexmoronomma)

The defeated: Greg Hardy

A post shared by Greg “The Prince Of War” Hardy (@greghardyjr)

The defeated: Khaos Williams

A post shared by Khaos williams (@khaoswilliams)

The defeated: Marlon Vera

A post shared by Marlon chito Vera (@chitoveraufc)

The defeated: Geoff Neal

A post shared by Geoff Neal (@handzofsteelmma)

The victorious

The victorious: Christos Giagos

A post shared by Christos Giagos (@cgiagos_ufc)

The victorious: Jimmy Flick

A post shared by Jimmy Steven Flick (@thebrickmma)

The victorious: Tafon Nchukwi

A post shared by Tafon Nchukwi (@tafon_da_don)

The victorious: Deron Winn

A post shared by DERON WINN (@deron_winn)

The victorious: Taila Santos

A post shared by Taila Santos (@tailasantos.ufc)

The victorious: Pannie Kianzad

A post shared by Pannie “Banzai” Kianzad🇸🇪🇩🇰🌍 (@panniekianzad)

The victorious: Anthony Pettis

A post shared by Anthony Pettis (@showtimepettis)

The victorious: Marcin Tybura

A post shared by Marcin Tybura UFC fighter (@tyburamarcin)

The victorious: Rob Font

A post shared by Rob Font (@rob_font)

The victorious: Michel Pereira

A post shared by Michel “Demolidor” Pereira (@michelpereiraufc)

The victorious: Jose Aldo

A post shared by José Aldo Junior (@josealdojunioroficial)

The victorious: Stephen Thompson

A post shared by Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@wonderboymma)

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-fight-night-183-reactions-winning-losing-fighters-social-media