UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik says he came away highly impressed after sitting down with Conor McGregor and Max Holloway during fight week fighter meetings ahead of UFC 329.
Anik, a central figure in those closed-door briefings, spoke with both men days before the event at T-Mobile and later shared his takeaways with MMA Junkie and other reporters on the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet Thursday.
“A lot of you guys know Max Holloway told me in 2021 that he wanted to take a fight at middleweight before all was said and done,” Anik said, noting Holloway is now competing at 170 pounds with a professional record listed as 27-9 MMA and 23-9 UFC in the article.
“Not only am I not surprised to see him at 170, I'm not surprised that he looks very good as a welterweight. If you saw the picture of him with Robert Whittaker, they look like they're the same size. We don't always get a fighter meeting with Conor McGregor. We had a fighter meeting with Conor, and I asked him, 'Why are you back?' He's back to prove his love of the game.”
McGregor’s professional record is listed as 22-6 MMA and 10-4 UFC in the article, and Anik said the former champion’s mindset stood out.
“When you have financial freedom like he does, when your Bank of America or Bank of Ireland checking account is that robust, you don't willingly sign up to get punched in the face by Max Holloway unless you're trying to bolster your MMA legacy and prove your love of the game. I couldn't have been more impressed by Conor in our fighting meeting. I know people are more concerned with actions than words. But if the words are a tell, lean into them. Because he was great.”
