John Anik recognizes talent when he sees it. For a decade now, the voice of the UFC has been there for the rise of the UFC's greatest contenders and champions, and middleweight Bo Niccal was no different in his early assessment.
Knickal is part of a star-studded UFC 300 card that will feature 12 current or former champions competing on the same night. Anik said in an interview with MMA Junkie Radio that fight fans shouldn't worry too much about Nikal opening the main card against Cody Brundage.
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“There's a completely different dynamic with these players,” Anik said, referring to the rise of Khamzat Chimaev, Raul Rosas Jr. and Nikal. “When you recreate the way they fight with the expectations and the pressure and the intrigue of the fans, I think Bo Knickal checks a lot of boxes. [the commentary team] There's a breathtaking moment when you go through the pay-per-view opening and you get to sit and watch the first fight on pay-per-view, where the masses around the world participate, and it's very strategic on the game. It is a position. card. It's prime slots. ”
Anik said he will likely not be with the company by the time UFC 400 takes place in about 2032, making broadcasting a key part of his career.
The card begins April 13th at 6pm ET/3pm PT and is headlined by Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill for the light heavyweight title. The order of the matches is as follows.
Main Card (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)
• Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill – 5 rounds
• Women’s Strawweight Championship: Zhang Weili vs. Yang Xiaonan – 5 rounds
• Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway – 5 rounds (BMF title)
• Lightweight: Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan
• Middleweight: Bo Niccal vs. Cody Brundage
Qualifying (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+)
• Light Heavyweight: Jiří Prochaska vs. Aleksandar Rakić
• Featherweight: Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling
• Women's Bantamweight: Holly Holm vs. Kayla Harrison
• Featherweight: Sodiq Yusaf vs. Diego Lopez
Early Qualifiers (6 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+)
• Lightweight: Renato Moicano vs. Jalin Turner
• Women's Strawweight: Jessica Andrade vs. Marina Rodriguez
• Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Bobby Greene
• Bantamweight: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt
