Jon Anik: There would be value if UFC could 'shave the schedule down'

USA Today

21 hours ago

If Jon Anik wielded any power among the UFC brass, which he emphatically notes he does not, he could see the upside to a lighter event schedule
The UFC has spent more than a decade running an annual circuit of 41-43 shows per yer. It is a dream scenario for the hardcore fan, but perhaps for those within the industry and casual followers of the sport, there are some negative attachments.
Lead UFC play-by-play man Anik understands there is a loaded UFC roster of more than 600 athletes who need contractual obligations filled. However, if he could magically snap his fingers and make an adjustment to the UFC product, he ponders the potentially positive ramifications of slowing down the relentless grind of shows.
"I certainly think that if somehow there were a world in which we weren't serving a million masters and we could shave the schedule down from, say, 40 live events to 30 and add that depth to the fight cards, I think that would be something that would be of value," Anik told MMA Junkie on the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame red carpet. "I do think we ask a lot of our fans for seven, eight hours a night, 41 Saturday nights a year, so I think making the live events a little bit more ingestible (could be beneficial). But they didn't become the combat sports leader by taking advice from me, so I think they're doing just OK."
The UFC schedule could potentially see alterations in 2026. The current U.S. television rights agreement with ESPN expires this year, and the UFC could either renew entirely, partially re-sign with ESPN or take its product to one or multiple potential new bidders such as Netflix, Amazon and more.