It’s quite unusual to envision a pre-fight press conference without the presence of UFC president Dana White. He is known for trying to attend almost all significant events related to the UFC physically. However, this time, Dana White was absent from the UFC 291 pre-fight press conference, a rarity in itself. UFC 291 holds a lot of importance for the promotion, featuring thrilling matchups that have many fight fans eagerly anticipating the event.
The headline bout will see Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje competing for the coveted BMF championship. Additionally, fans will be treated to the debut fight of former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira, in the light heavyweight division as he takes on Jan Blachowicz in the co-main event.
Why Dana White was absent from UFC 291 press conference?
UFC 291 is highly regarded as one of the most significant fights of the year, and naturally, the MMA community anticipated Dana White’s presence at the pre-fight press conference. However, it was actually Jon Anik, the long-time UFC commentator, who stepped in to fill the role and take over the responsibilities usually handled by the UFC boss.
As Dana White is currently in Italy, it has been reported that Jon Anik is preparing to take over the broadcasting duties in his absence. When the fans learned about this news, they swiftly reacted to it. Surprisingly, a huge section of fans expressed their contentment and approval regarding Anik stepping in to replace the UFC boss.
🚨| Due to Dana White currently being on vacation in Italy, Jon Anik will step in to host the #UFC291 press conference at the top of the hour.
[per @MikeBohn]#UFC291 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/nalEt79MRX— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) July 27, 2023
Jon Anik has been a vital and longstanding member of the UFC broadcasting team, endearing himself to many with his exceptional presentation skills. Given his popularity and proficiency, a fan even remarked that Anik could potentially become the next UFC president.
What is the UFC 291 full fight card?
This weekend, fight fans can look forward to UFC 291 taking place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The main event is expected to be an exhilarating ‘BMF’ title fight, as Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje step into the octagon to compete for the highly-coveted championship.
Adding to the excitement, the co-main event features former middleweight titleholder Alex Pereira making his debut in the light heavyweight division against former divisional champion Jan Blachowicz.
The card is stacked with thrilling matchups, including a lightweight clash between UFC veterans Tony Ferguson and Bobby Green. Additionally, welterweight contender Kevin Holland will test his skills against Michael Chiesa, while Stephen Thompson squares off against Michel Pereira in another captivating bout.
Do you think 291 is one of the most stacked PPVs of the year? Let us know in the comments!
