Jon Anik Responds to Criticism Over UFC 240 Commentary

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A post shared by Jon Anik (@jon_anik) on Aug 2, 2019 at 9:38am PDT

Ultimate Fighting Championship play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has something to say to the critics who felt the UFC 240 commentary was biased.

Cristiane Justino recently lamented that the UFC 240 commentary from Joe Rogan and Jon Anik was biased towards her opponent, Felicia Spencer. She had felt that the UFC told them to make her look bad and her opponent good.

Now, almost a week later after the event, Anik took to Instagram to respond in a statement, where he believes there was no bias in the play-by-play. Instead, what felt like praise for Spencer was because of how good "Cyborg" was looking, and how it was impressive that the Canadian was still in the fight.

"I have heard the criticism about the commentary in the Cris Cyborg-Felicia Spencer fight and felt the need to address it publicly, as we consider all feedback seriously," Anik wrote. "In this instance, I would respectfully disagree with those who suggest there was any bias or lack of objectivity. We repeatedly gave Cyborg credit or her striking and execution. I even suggested she deserved at 10-8 margin in round 3.

"That said, a big part of the narrative in the fight was Spencer. Sure she lost all three rounds but she deserved credit for her ability to absorb punishment and keep pressing forward, her ability to rise to the occasion in just her eighth pro fight against an all-time great like Cyborg. Many fighters would have crumbled under that Cyborg pressure and she did not. Thus she was given credit on the broadcast."

Not only does he think there is no bias, but he outright denied the UFC has ever told him how to call a fight. He also mentions that he has a good relationship with the former featherweight champion, and hopes a rematch with Amanda Nunes is next.