| OT Eryk Anders to make his UFC debut this weekend

[JoshB]

Former Alabama linebacker Eryk Anders is scheduled to make his UFC debut on July 22.

Anders won the Legacy Fighting Alliance's middleweight championship his last time out, and he announced via Twitter on Thursday afternoon that he'd signed for a bout with Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world's largest promoter in mixed martial arts.

Anders is scheduled square off against Rafael Natal at UFC on FOX 25 on July 22 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York.

Natal-Anders is expected to be one of the televised preliminary bouts.

Anders is joining the July 22 card on short notice as an injury replacement. Natal was supposed to fight Tim Williams, who was an injury replacement for Alessio Di Chirico. But Williams pulled out of the fight on Thursday with an injury of his own.

Natal has a 21-8-1 MMA record. He's had 16 UFC fights.

Anders defeated Brendan Allen of Slidell, Louisiana, by unanimous decision to capture the inaugural LFA middleweight belt at LFA 14 on June 23 in Houston.

The bout went the full five rounds, with each of the three judges scoring the fight 49-46 in Anders' favor.

Anders lifted his professional MMA record to 8-0 by defeating Allen. It was only the second of Anders' fights to go past the first round.


Anders played his final game for Alabama in the Crimson Tide's 37-21 victory over Texas in the BCS national-championship game to cap the 2009 season. Anders led Alabama with seven tackles, including a fumble-causing sack of Texas quarterback Garret Gilbert with the Crimson Tide holding a 24-21 lead. Courtney Upshaw recovered the loose football for Alabama at the Texas 3-yard line with 3:02 left in the game, and the Tide rolled on to its first national title under coach Nick Saban.

UFC on FOX 25 CARD

Damian Grabowski vs. Chase Sherman (heavyweight)

Ryan LaFlare vs. Alex Oliveira (welterweight)

Rafael Natal vs. Eryk Anders (middleweight)

Lyman Good vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (welterweight)

Jimmie Rivera vs. Thomas Almeida (bantamweight)

Patrick Cummins vs. Gian Villante (light heavyweight)

Dennis Bermudez vs. Darren Elkins (featherweight)

Chris Weidman vs. Kelvin Gastelum (middleweight)


Card starts at 5 PM central on 07/22. Anders fight should be second or third on the card so relatively early. There will also be a round of preliminary fights that start at 3 PM on UFC Fight Pass (their streaming service). Anders fight will be live on FOX. He honestly probably doesn't have much of a chance considering he took it on a weeks notice but its cool to see him get a UFC shot regardless.

 

[rueben]

I've been following Eryk since his MMA debut. And he certainly has what it takes. He is great all around and can stand up or use his jujitsu skills as well. Of course, as a (former) linebacker he loves to shoot in, take is opponent down and then do some ground-n-pound work. While he likes to go for the quick KO ( sevral fights ending in less than a minute of the first round) his last fight proves he has the stamina go all 5 rounds of a belt fight. Him being able to take this fight on such short notice proves that he stays in shape 24/7/365, as so many other fighters have a "fight weight" and a "walking around weight". I've known welterweight fighters who walked around weighing over 200 lbs, but would cut 178 lb for a weigh in. (As awesome as Matt Hughes was, he was one of them) .

 

[JoshB]

I've been following Eryk since his MMA debut. And he certainly has what it takes. He is great all around and can stand up or use his jujitsu skills as well. Of course, as a (former) linebacker he loves to shoot in, take is opponent down and then do some ground-n-pound work. While he likes to go for the quick KO ( sevral fights ending in less than a minute of the first round) his last fight proves he has the stamina go all 5 rounds of a belt fight. Him being able to take this fight on such short notice proves that he stays in shape 24/7/365, as so many other fighters have a "fight weight" and a "walking around weight". I've known welterweight fighters who walked around weighing over 200 lbs, but would cut 178 lb for a weigh in. (As awesome as Matt Hughes was, he was one of them) .

I've always felt like all fighters (boxing and MMA) that do drastic weight cutting for a fight are doing themselves a huge injustice. There's no way that cant hurt you especially right before a fight.

 

[rueben]

I've always felt like all fighters (boxing and MMA) that do drastic weight cutting for a fight are doing themselves a huge injustice. There's no way that cant hurt you especially right before a fight.

I agree, to a point. What they lose just before a fight is "water weight." They wear the plastic and / or rubber "sweat suits" while doing heavy cardio etc. Then aprox 24 hours prior to the fight they have their weigh-ins. As soon as they step off the scales some one is shoving a bottle of hydrating liquid in their hands. Not sure what they use now, but "back in da' day" it was Pedialyte. By the time the bell rings they are well above what they weighed in at.

 

[planomateo]

They should make them fight at their weigh in weight.

 

[rick4bama]

It on now, Fox -TV is showing about four match. It also look like Eryk Anders 7-0-0 may be the third one on the card. He be up against Rafael Natal with a 21-8-1. Best of luck tonight.

 

[PurlJam]

Anders fight about to begin.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Anders fight about to begin.

Powerful man. That was quick. Roll Tide!!!!

 

[PurlJam]

Anders with a left hook KO in the first round.

 

[PurlJam]

Powerful man. That was quick. Roll Tide!!!!

He finished that before I could finish my first beer. :notworthy

 

[JoshB]

I think Anders made a name for himself tonight. Natal's not a tomato can and he took that fight in just a weeks notice and obliterated the dude. If he continues to improve and continues to his current momentum Bama may end up with one of the top boxers in the world (Wilder) and one of the top MMA fighters in the world at the same time. Thats too awesome.

 

[rick4bama]

He didn't take much time in doing it either!!

 

[TUSKtimes]

He finished that before I could finish my first beer. :notworthy

Yeah, still following coach Saban's mandate, you know, making his backside quit. Anders was pushing him around pretty good and hitting with some serious power and from distance. He looks big for 185.

 

[PurlJam]

Yeah, still following coach Saban's mandate, you know, making his backside quit. Anders was pushing him around pretty good and hitting with some serious power and from distance. He looks big for 185.

I think his playing weight (2009)was around 225/230 and he still looks about that size.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I think his playing weight (2009)was around 225/230 and he still looks about that size.

If he stays at middleweight he will be hard for these guys to handle.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

From this BOOM




To THIS BOOM!



Fox Twitter AND the commentator mentioning Bama.

LOVE IT!

ROLL TIDE, ERYK!

 

[JoshB]

Yeah, still following coach Saban's mandate, you know, making his backside quit. Anders was pushing him around pretty good and hitting with some serious power and from distance. He looks big for 185.

That head kick before the KO was pretty damn vicious too.

 

[rick4bama]

I read a rely on FB this morning. The guy saying, will be his only win, he will not win another fight. Then I look at his FB account his profile photo was nothing but toilet paper. Now that hurt when you can't see a good fight for the trees in his eyes.

 

[sean]

i met Eryk a few years ago at an autograph signing.

he is a very nice person and was willing to talk to anyone who wanted to just stand there and talk. he was pretty soft-spoken and very courteous. he even shook my hand and thanked me for coming out to the signing.

 

[OriginalBamachris]