Jon Anik believes Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya "laid out the blueprint" for UFC superstardom, says Alex Pereira already in "GOAT" discussion

Jon Anik has suggested that Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya have set ideal examples of achieving UFC superstardom. Anik also seemingly deemed Alex Pereira a superstar who's entered the MMA G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) discussions. Additionally, Anik chimed in on the potential next move for 'The Last Stylebender.'

McGregor is a former two-division champion, whereas Adesanya is a former two-time middleweight champion. Meanwhile, Pereira is a former middleweight champion and the reigning light heavyweight champion.

Presently, 'Poatan' is scheduled to defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 on Oct. 5, 2024. During an interview with The Schmo ahead of the star-studded event, UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik waxed lyrical about McGregor, Adesanya, and Pereira. Anik stated:

"Well, he [Alex Pereira] is already in that [G.O.A.T.] conversation. And I would like to inject Conor McGregor into this conversation and Israel Adesanya because those men sort of laid out the blueprint for an expeditious rise to superstardom in the UFC. Go back and look at the log -- 2018, 2019, all the times 'The Last Stylebender' was competing in a championship setting."

He added:

"So those guys [McGregor and Adesanya] laid out the foundation, but yeah, I mean, 'Poatan,' three years ago, he wasn't on the f**king roster. And now, he's a two-division [UFC] champion and making a third title defense in a span of seven months on all these massive pay-per-views. What else can you say?"

For years, Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya have been counted among the fight game's biggest draws. Since his UFC debut in November 2021, Alex Pereira has also cemented himself as a UFC icon.

Apart from picking Brazil's Pereira as a potential G.O.A.T. candidate in MMA, Jon Anik alluded to the former two-division Glory kickboxing champion being considered a good human being. Anik speculated that 'Poatan' is likely an even better human being than he's a fighter, adding that it'll be interesting to see his upcoming matchup against Rountree.

Check out Jon Anik's comments below (2:37):

---

Jon Anik addresses Israel Adesanya's future

After his submission defeat to UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis in August, Israel Adesanya recently signaled that he'd like to compete one more time in 2024 or return in early 2025. Speaking to The Schmo, Jon Anik asserted that Adesanya will probably "bide his time" and allow the middleweight waters to marinate for a while.

Anik referenced du Plessis' coach Morne Visser pitching ex-middleweight champion Robert Whittaker as his student's potential next opponent. The commentator highlighted that Whittaker fights Khamzat Chimaev later this month.

Furthermore, Anik alluded to the long-running rivalry between Adesanya and Chimaev and pitched that as an alluring matchup for 'Izzy.' Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Chimaev could end up pivoting to the middleweight title picture rather than facing him.

Anik seemed to suggest that with fighters like Whittaker, Chimaev, Nassourdine Imavov, and Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya has many options. He notably underscored that Adesanya is still the biggest star and fight for many in the 185-pound division. He said:

"You got to think that as the biggest fight for most guys in that division, he's going to get his pick of the litter." [3:43-minute mark of the interview video]