Jon Anik lauds "G.O.A.T." Joe Rogan for inspiring his style on the mic after UFC 307 ceremonial weigh-ins: "Imitation = flattery"
Joe Rogan's presence in the UFC analyst booth forms an integral part of the UFC pay-per-view experience. He has been a long-standing mainstay of UFC broadcasts and played an instrumental part in bridging the gap between educated audiences and curious new fans of the sport.
His passion for the sport has made him a respected figure in the MMA community and Joe Rogan's podcast has become a great platform for fighters. Recently, fellow analyst Jon Anik took to X to express his admiration for Rogan, labeling him the "G.O.A.T." of commentary.
In his post, Anik acknowledged how he has mirrored his ceremonial weigh-in style after Rogan, writing:
"Imitation = flattery. I've mirrored my ceremonial weigh-in call and style after the G.O.A.T. @joerogan, from whom I've just learned so much. He has a way of captivating your attention [with] his vocal energy from the moment he cracks a mic. And he still brings it hard every time..."
Check out Jon Anik's X post below:
Rogan will lead the play-by-play commentary for the upcoming UFC 307 pay-per-view showcase alongside Anik and former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier. Din Thomas will join the broadcast in the capacity of a coach-analyst while Megan Olivi will handle backstage interviews. Meanwhile, octagon veteran Bruce Buffer will introduce the fighters and announce the results.
The marquee attraction of UFC 307 features a light heavyweight showdown between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. Pereira, who's gearing up to make the third defense of the 205-pound throne, takes on Rountree, who wields the strength of a five-fight win streak leading up to the clash.
Meanwhile, Raquel Pennington will put her women's bantamweight title on the line against Julianna Pena in a bout that serves as the co-main event fixture of the 12-fight card.
When Jon Anik claimed that he wouldn't be surprised if Joe Rogan "outlasts" him
Joe Rogan, who has been a staple in the UFC commentary booth for over a decade, has faced criticism from some fans regarding his commentary style. However, Jon Anik believes that Rogan's dynamic style enhances the broadcast experience.
He also dismissed rumors about Rogan's departure, claiming that the energy and presence of the 57-year-old is an integral part of the pay-per-view experience. Speaking to the media at the UFC 261 media scrum, Anik said:
“There are rumblings, ‘Oh, Rogan’s got one foot out the door.’ He’s doing our domestic pay-per-views right now. He hasn’t traveled internationally as long as I’ve been doing the pay-per-views, but I don’t think he’s going anywhere. That’s not informed speculation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he outlasts me, to be honest with you.”
Catch Jon Anik's comments below (2:10):