Eryk Anders - News & Rumors - UFC | FOX Sports

Former Alabama linebacker goes out a winner in UFC swan song Eryk Anders is retiring after capturing a unanimous decision in his 20th UFC fight on Saturday.

MARCH 15 • AL.COM

Ends career with victory Anders defeated Brad Tavares via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Impact Anders announced prior to the bout that this would be his retirement fight. He stuck to it, and unlike most others, walked away with a victory. It wasn't pretty. Anders essentially only won because of his massive brute strength advantage over Tavares. He managed a whopping 9:20 worth of control time despite landing just 3-of-9 takedown attempts. He survived a Round 2 knockdown and did just enough with his positional advantage to generate enough offense to win. A member of the UFC roster since July 2017, Anders closes his run with a 10-9 (1NC) mark in 19 fights with the company. His best wins came against the likes of Chris Weidman and Kyle Daukaus.

MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE

Tavares up next Anders will fight Brad Tavares at UFC Vegas 114 on March 14, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.

Impact Anders was defeated by Christian Leroy Duncan in August, snapping what had been a two-fight winning streak for Anders. He'll have a one-inch reach advantage during his next fight against an opponent who has dropped three of his last four bouts.

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Falls in Round 1 Anders lost to Christian Leroy Duncan via TKO (punches) at 3:53 of Round 1 at UFC Vegas 109 on Saturday.

Impact Anders had to fight off adversity early, as he was poked in the eye and kicked in the groin, which both required stoppages in the early minutes. His opponent also got away with another groin shot that went unnoticed, as well as a fence grab. Anders did his best to fire off knees, but he ran into a spinning elbow that proved to be the beginning of the end. Anders had his arms down and was taking a barrage of shots before referee Mark Smith rightfully rushed in to call the action off. Anders is now 38 years old and has openly talked about retirement, but if he does opt to stick around, the company will have to be careful with who it matches him up against.

AUGUST 10, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

UFC on ESPN 72: Christian Leroy Duncan post-fight interview UFC on ESPN 72 winner Christian Leroy Duncan talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight after his first-round TKO of Eryk Anders in...

AUGUST 10, 2025 • USATODAY.COM

Next fight scheduled Anders is scheduled to compete against Christian Leroy Duncan in a middleweight fight at UFC Vegas 109 on Aug. 9, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.

Impact UFC Vegas 109 is scheduled to include Anders' first 2025 fight. He ended his 2024 strong by finishing former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman in just under two full rounds.

MAY 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Eryk Anders admits he overlooked Jamie Pickett, was thinking about bonus money Eryk Anders sent Jamie Pickett into retirement on his fifth straight loss at UFC Fight Night 238.

MARCH 5, 2024 • SUNHERALD.COM

Eryk Anders counting down to his UFC retirement The former Alabama linebacker plans to fight five more times, starting with a Saturday night bout at UFC 289.

JUNE 10, 2023 • AL.COM

UFC 289's Marc-Andre Barriault explains why he spent four years calling out Eryk Anders Marc-Andre Barriault finally gets his chance to fight Eryk Anders at UFC 289 after repeated callouts dating back more than four years.

JUNE 9, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

UFC 289's Eryk Anders plans retirement after five more fights to focus on fatherhood Eryk Anders has his exit plan from MMA set up, and the countdown begins when he steps in the octagon at UFC 289.

JUNE 8, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

UFC on ESPN 42 video: Eryk Anders smashes Kyle Daukaus for second-round stoppage “Ya Boi” Eryk Anders turned in a dominant performance against Kyle Daukaus at UFC on ESPN 42 in Orlando.

DECEMBER 4, 2022 • USATODAY.COM

Eryk Anders wants to keep grappler Kyle Daukaus from a chance to get scrambly at UFC on ESPN 42 With back-to-back losses in his return to middleweight, Eryk Anders doesn’t seem to be putting a lot of pressure on himself.

NOVEMBER 28, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

UFC's Eryk Anders says his best performances come at middleweight Eryk Anders will look to get back in the winning column by dropping to middleweight at UFC Orlando.

NOVEMBER 2, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

UFC middleweight Eryk Anders shares graphic photo after chainsawing foot Through a shoe, sock, and skin the chainsaw went.

MARCH 12, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Eryk Anders talks with Laura Sanko | INTERVIEW | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

Eryk Anders talks with Laura Sanko | INTERVIEW | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Eryk Anders KO's Tim Williams | HIGHLIGHT | UFC Fight Night

Eryk Anders KO's Tim Williams | HIGHLIGHT | UFC Fight Night

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Thiago Santos TKO's Eryk Anders | HIGHLIGHT | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

Thiago Santos TKO's Eryk Anders | HIGHLIGHT | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Thiago Santos talks with Laura Sanko | WEIGH-INS | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

Thiago Santos talks with Laura Sanko | WEIGH-INS | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Eryk Anders vs Thiago Santos face off | WEIGH-INS | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

Eryk Anders vs Thiago Santos face off | WEIGH-INS | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Eryk Anders talks with Heidi Androl | INTERVIEW | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

Eryk Anders talks with Heidi Androl | INTERVIEW | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Lyoto Machida vs Eryk Anders face-off | WEIGH-INS | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

Lyoto Machida vs Eryk Anders face-off | WEIGH-INS | UFC FIGHT NIGHT

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Eryk Anders talks to UFC Tonight | INTERVIEW | UFC TONIGHT

Eryk Anders talks to UFC Tonight | INTERVIEW | UFC TONIGHT

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Andre Muniz vs Eryk Anders Odds, Prediction, Fight Info & Betting For UFC 269 on FanDuel Sportsbook Andre Muniz vs Eryk Anders UFC 269 middleweight bout odds, prediction, fight info, stats, stream and betting insights.

DECEMBER 6, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Eryk Anders fills in for injured Dricus Du Plessis, faces Andre Muniz at UFC 269 Eryk Anders will fill in for the injured Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 269.

NOVEMBER 9, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Eryk Anders scores victory in UFC rematch The former Alabama linebacker won a unanimous decision in a light-heavyweight fight on Saturday.

JUNE 13, 2021 • AL.COM