With one fight left on contract, Eryk Anders maps out retirement plan after UFC on ESPN 72

17-07-2025

Eryk Anders wants the final fight on his UFC contract to be a sendoff at home.
Anders (17-7 MMA, 9-8 UFC) meets Christian Leroy Duncan (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 72 on Aug. 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He'll have one more fight left on his contract after that, and he wants it to be a special one.
The 38-year-old plans on hanging up his gloves once his UFC contract is up and has two locations in mind – Noche UFC on Sept. 13 or the UFC's annual pay-per-view event in November.
"They're going to San Antonio, that's my hometown, so that would be like a dream come true," Anders told MMA Junkie Radio. "That's the last fight on my contract and my 20th fight, and I'd be good retiring after that, and that's the plan anyway.
"But if not there, then I was supposed to fight in Madison Square Garden last year against Weidman but got sick, couldn't fight, doctors pulled me from the fight, then we fought in Vegas. Madison Square is like the mecca for combat sports. Big boxing bouts, UFC fights have happened there, so I definitely want to fight there. If I can make that happen and that would be my last fight, then we're off to the sunset."
Anders explains how his financial situation has allowed him not to feel obligated to stay very active.
"I got a lot of other things going on, so I don't have to fight," Anders said. "I enjoy fighting, I love fighting, but I'm trying to move in other avenues. I used to like press the UFC to fight. 'I want to fight, I want to fight, I want to fight.' But now, I can take my time in between fights. I'm getting ready to open up a gym in September. I'm doing all this stuff now to get that going, so I have other things occupying my mind and time."

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WWE Strikes $1.6 Billion USD Deal With ESPN

Hypebeast

10 minutes ago

Hypebeast

WWE Strikes $1.6 Billion USD Deal With ESPN

Summary In a landmark agreement that reshapes the sports entertainment landscape,WWEhas finalized a multi-year deal withESPN, granting the Disney-owned company exclusive U.S. domestic streaming rights to all WWE Premium Live Events. The deal, valued at $1.6 billion USD over five years, marks a significant strategic victory for WWE and a pivotal move for ESPN's ambitious new streaming service. The agreement, which begins in 2026, will see all of WWE's marquee events—includingWrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series—move exclusively to ESPN's platforms in the U.S. This marks a major shift from WWE's current partnership with NBCUniversal's Peacock, which is set to expire in March 2026. This move aligns WWE's distribution model more closely with that of the UFC, which has seen immense success under the ESPN banner. For ESPN, the deal is a cornerstone of its new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service, which is launching on August 21st at a price of $29.99 USD per month. WWE's 'immense, devoted and passionate fanbase' is a key draw, with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro noting that the addition of WWE's biggest events will bolster their content portfolio and 'drive our streaming future.' The statement reads, 'WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fan base that we're excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform. This agreement, which features the most significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.' The deal not only grants ESPN the rights to the premium live events themselves but also the opportunity to stream pre- and post-show content, fully integrating WWE into its sports media ecosystem. Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO said, 'We are proud to reinforce the 'E' in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can't-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.' This partnership is part of a larger, aggressive push by ESPN to secure high-profile live event rights ahead of its new streaming service. The company recently finalized a deal with the NFL, which includes an equity stake for the league in exchange for media assets, and is reportedly in talks with Major League Baseball for a new rights package. The WWE deal, therefore, positions ESPN as a formidable force in the streaming wars, leveraging a wide range of live sports and entertainment to attract a diverse audience. While the deal is a massive financial success for WWE, it comes with a potential challenge for fans. The new ESPN streaming service will cost $29.99 USD per month, a significant increase from the $10.99 USD monthly price WWE fans currently pay for Peacock's unlimited plan. However, reports suggest that existing cable and satellite subscribers who receive ESPN as part of their package may be able to access the new WWE content at no additional cost through authentication. This development sets the stage for a new era of WWE viewing, where a single, dedicated platform becomes the exclusive home for all of the company's biggest events. Breaking News: WWE Premium Live Events are headed to@espnplatforms in the U.S. starting in — WWE (@WWE)August 6, 2025