Overview
- Anik said on the Spinnin Backfist podcast that he would cut roughly 150 fighters and cap events at about 10 bouts to bring runtimes down to five or six hours.
- He cited a roster “north of 600” and an annual pipeline of roughly 50 Contender Series signees as key drivers of scheduling bloat.
- He also urged more live on-air elements and fewer pre‑taped segments as the UFC transitions its broadcasts to Paramount+.
- UFC 324 on January 24 at T‑Mobile Arena marks the Paramount+ debut, with Anik calling the event alongside Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier and Kate Scott anchoring the desk.
- Coverage notes the long-term Paramount/CBS rights agreement, widely reported at about $7.7 billion, incentivizes preserving broadcast minutes, and there has been no indication the UFC will adopt Anik’s proposed cuts now.