The Jon Anik & Kenny Florian Podcast
Jon Anik
Jon Anik is the lead play-by-play voice for the UFC on pay-per-view, ESPN, and ESPN+ and Co-Host of the Anik & Florian Podcast
J.A began his career in Boston as a sports writer for the MetroWest Daily News. He also worked with autistic children at a collaborative in Massachusetts, eventually rising to the post of vocational coordinator.
During Anik’s time as a sportswriter, he felt he was more cut out to be a broadcast journalist. After a pit stop for broadcast training at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting (where he would later teach), Anik landed a job at Sporting News Radio’s Boston affiliate, 1510 the Zone. Anik went from update announcer to afternoon drive host in 18 months, co-hosting ‘The Diehards’ with Ryen Russillo and Anthony Pepe. In 2005, Anik was promoted to program director of the station. He continued his on-air work as co-host of ‘The Mouthpiece Boxing Show’ from 2005-2008.
In February of 2006, Anik was hired as a SportsCenter anchor for ESPN Radio, where he anchored updates and served as a fill-in host on ‘Game Night.’ In 2007, Anik was recruited by ESPN Digital Media and began cutting his teeth on the TV side. In 2008, he was named the host of ESPN.com’s ‘MMA Live.’ The show was picked up by ESPN2 in 2010.
As the host of ‘MMA Live.’ Anik anchored more than 30 remote broadcasts at UFC events, including the historic UFC 100 in July of 2009. His work and exposure on MMA Live led to other opportunities in mixed martial arts. Anik served as the play-by-play voice for the inaugural season of Bellator Fighting Championships in 2009. He went on to call a handful of live events for ESPN in college football and boxing. Anik worked the 2010 WBC heavyweight title fight between Vitali Klitschko and Shannon Briggs.
In 2011, after six years at ESPN, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hired Anik as a commentator. Anik handled play-by-play duties for UFC FIGHT NIGHT events on FOX and FS1, and also served as a studio desk host on FOX and FS1. In 2017, he was promoted to become the UFC’s lead play-by-play voice on pay-per-view. In addition, he previously hosted UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER and THE ULIMATE FIGHTER: LIVE on FX. He’s also co-host of the popular ‘Anik & Florian Podcast’, with retired fighter and UFC analyst Kenny Florian.
Anik was born July 3, 1978 in Boston, MA, three minutes before his identical twin brother, Jason. Anik was raised in Wellesley, MA, where he spent the majority of his childhood playing sports. He is the oldest of four siblings.
Anik attended high school at The Rivers School in Weston, MA, where he would serve as editor-in-chief of the high school newspaper. Anik always enjoyed public speaking and was especially touched to be voted on by his classmates as the graduation speaker in 1997. Anik was also a member of the varsity tennis and basketball teams, serving as captain of the basketball team during his senior season.
Anik lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife and three kids.
Kenny Florian
Kenny Florian is co-owner of Florian Martial Arts Center in Brookline, MA and can be found off the mats as a color commentator for BattleBots on the Discovery and Science Channels as well as an MMA analyst as Co-Host of the Anik & Florian Podcast.
K.F is the only UFC fighter to compete in four divisions (Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight and Middleweight). He fought for three UFC titles in two weight classes and is an accomplished 4th degree BJJ Black Belt under Roberto Maia of Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gracie-Barra Boston).
Growing up, Florian was always athletic. As the son of Peruvian parents, he fell in love with soccer and eventually landed a spot on the team at Boston College. His martial arts journey began in 1996 in between his sophomore and junior seasons. Years earlier, his brother Keith had introduced him to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. “The summer of 1996, my brother and I saved up and we went to a Royce Gracie seminar in Westchester, New York,” Florian said. “That’s how it all started, from that moment. Meeting Royce and learning those moves. We were just hooked.”
Keith and Kenny trained every single day in their parent’s basement. “We had this ugly, green, thick rug that we used to slam each other on.” Brazilian jiu-jitsu quickly started taking over Florian’s life and mind. He’d be in the shower daydreaming of BJJ moves. “I just could not get Brazilian jiu-jitsu out of my brain,” he said.
After graduation, Kenny took a job translating financial documents into foreign languages with a plan to work a few years and then apply to law school. He’d work during the day and pursue his true passion at night with Roberto Maia at Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In 2003, Kenny Florian made his MMA debut with a first round TKO. He would go on to compete on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 before entering the UFC. Before his retirement from the sport in 2011, he amassed a 14-6 professional record.
MMA ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Sean Sherk, Dokonjonosuke Mishima, Joe Lauzon
Submission of the Night (Two times) vs. Din Thomas, Takanori Gomi
Competed in four different weight divisions (UFC Record)
Highest submission percentage in UFC History
Tied for the most submission victories in modern UFC History
Holds a 3rd Degree Blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Two time winner of the Tequila CAZADORES® Spirit Award (directed proceeds to Special Operations Warrior Foundation)