The UFC’s new era got underway on Saturday night, and the event came with quite a few notable differences from what fans have grown used to.
Viewers tuning in to the promotion’s debut broadcast on Paramount+ could not help but notice a steady stream of advertisements. Dana White addressed the backlash that followed.
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But it was not all bad news for the UFC. The post-fight bonuses introduced at UFC 324 went over well, with fighters pocketing an extra $450,000.
And while not everything has been sorted out yet, there was one recent suggestion that caught some attention internally.
Jon Anik believes his criticism of UFC event length reached the right ears
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Following UFC 324, there were assurances that the opening event of 2026 would not become the standard, responding to a number of complaints that had surfaced.
The card at T-Mobile Arena featured just 11 fights due to several cancellations, which was unusual for a typical night from MMA’s biggest promotion.
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Recently, on the Spinnin Backfist MMA Show, Jon Anik asserted that the excessive length of UFC events is the promotion’s biggest challenge.
The veteran play-by-play commentator suggested a significant roster reduction as a possible fix, recommending cutting 150 fighters.
On his Anik & Florian podcast following UFC 324, he acknowledged that his remarks regarding potential UFC improvements had been flagged.
“I got in trouble last week. I suggested our events were too long and that was probably a regrettable utterance by me,” he stated.
Jon Anik’s remarks about UFC event length echo a familiar sentiment
His comments came after Demetrious Johnson, who was a guest on the podcast, said he could not work as an analyst for the UFC because he would end up being too critical.
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Anik responded by pointing out that it is not unusual for commentators to have their opinions scrutinised. He referenced Din Thomas’ comments during the last women’s strawweight title fight as another example.
The discussion around roster size is also nothing new among those within the organisation.
Last year, Joe Rogan mentioned that with the depth of talent in MMA today, having such a large roster makes it harder for fighters to stay active given how few spots are available on each card.
