Rivalries: Eryk Anders

Eryk Anders’ extensive experience in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, spanning almost seven years, distinctly portrays him as a fighter deeply entrenched in the old-school ethos of fighting. Win or lose, the UFC middleweight is a fighter through and through. Ahead of his UFC 289 clash against Marc-Andre Barriault, Anders disclosed in an interview with UFC.com that he is on the home stretch of his fighting career, as he eyes retirement after five more fights.

At 36, his priorities have shifted. The way he perceives it, the allure of championship opportunities and numerical rankings pales in comparison to his desire to spend time with his family. Drawing examples from his tenure as a former member of the University of Alabama football team, Anders has firsthand experience in what it means to walk away from the sport. Yet he remains steadfast in his resolve. He embarks on the final chapters of his career to secure his legacy and punctuate a definitive ending to his time with the fight game. One of those chapters will be scripted when he faces Jamie Pickett in the featured UFC Fight Night 238 prelim on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Ahead of Anders’ forthcoming clash with Pickett, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape his career to this point:

Brendan Allen

Allen is currently the No. 6-ranked middleweight contender and boasts a six-fight undefeated streak. However, before he became this fierce competitor at 185 pounds, he locked horns with Anders during their time in the Legacy Fighting Alliance for the organization’s inaugural middleweight strap. The bout, which took place on June. 23, 2017, featured a strong performance by “Ya Boi” as he battled through five rounds to lay hands on the LFA middleweight title by unanimous decision. Anders would go on to sign with the UFC subsequently.

Rafael Natal

Anders made his Octagon debut against Natal at UFC on Fox 25, a month after claiming the LFA championship. It took him just one round to decisively conclude the bout with two sharp left hands, which led to his opponent running face first into the chain link fence. He followed up with a barrage of strikes to a grounded Natal, which saw him win the fight by knockout at 2:54 of the first round. A new contender had arrived, and his performance did not escape the organization’s attention.

Vinicius Moreira

“Ya Boi” made quick work of Moreira and got back in the win column following three straight losses between September 2018 and April 2019. The light heavyweight bout progressed with Moreira’s persistent effort to take the fight to the canvas. Anders thwarted his attempts, and during one such exchange, landed a thunderous left hand which staggered his opponent. The dazed Brazilian ate a series of punches on the feet before his back hit the mat. He then absorbed some more shots, forcing the referee to wave the bout off. The victory also earned Anders a “Performance of the Night” bonus.

Kyle Daukaus

Following the Moreira outing, Anders sustained three losses, one no contest and two wins in six Octagon outings. In his most recent victory in December 2022, Anders clobbered Daukaus and snapped his two-fight losing skid by dominating the proceedings. He found the mark with his left hand and dropped his opponent before sealing the victory in the second round with thunderous hammerfists. This was Anders’ first finish in over three years.