UFC 300 News: Jon Anik Agrees With Bo Nickal's Main Card Spot: ‘There’s Just A Different Electricity’

Jon Anik is in favor of Bo Nickal's UFC 300 main card spot.

Zain Bando | Mar 31, 2024

Jul 8, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Bo Nickal (red gloves) reacts to defeating Val Woodburn (blue) / Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Anik recognizes talent when he sees it. The decade-long voice of the UFC has been there for the rise of some of the UFC’s greatest contenders and champions, and middleweight Bo Nickal is no different in his early estimation.

Nickal is part of the star-studded UFC 300 card, which features 12 current or former champions competing on the same night. Anik said in an interview with MMAJunkie Radio that Nickal opening the main card against Cody Brundage should be the least of concerns for fight fans.

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“There’s just a different electricity when it comes to some of these guys,” Anik said while referencing the rise of Khamzat Chimaev, Raul Rosas Jr. and Nickal. “You parlay their fight style with the expectation and the pressure, and the fan intrigue, I just think Bo Nickal checks a lot of boxes. Like, for us, [the commentary team] when we get through our pay-per-view open and we have that exhale moment when we get to sit down and watch that first fight on pay-per-view with all of the masses around the world, that’s a very strategic position on the card. It’s a prime slot.”

Anik said he will likely not be with the company by the time UFC 400 happens in roughly 2032, making the broadcast a key one of his career.

The card begins at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on April 13, headlined by Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill for the light heavyweight title. The bout order is listed below.

Main card (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)

• Light heavyweight championship: Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill – five-rounder

• Women's strawweight championship: Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan – five-rounder

• Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway – five-rounder (BMF title)

• Lightweight: Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan

• Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage

Prelims (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+)

• Light heavyweight: Jiří Procházka vs. Aleksandar Rakic

• Featherweight: Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling

• Women's bantamweight: Holly Holm vs. Kayla Harrison

• Featherweight: Sodiq Yusuff vs. Diego Lopes

Early prelims (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 Green

• Bantamweight: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt

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Published Mar 31, 2024|Modified Mar 31, 2024

ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99