Eryk Anders

Eryk Ryan Anders[1] (born April 21, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former American football linebacker. He competes in the Middleweight division of the UFC. He played college football at the University of Alabama.[6]

Eryk Anders
BornEryk Ryan Anders[1]
(1987-04-21) April 21, 1987
Clark Air Base, Pampanga, Luzon Islands, Philippines[2]
Other namesYa Boi[3]
NationalityAmerican
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
DivisionMiddleweight (2015–2018, 2019–present)
Light Heavyweight (2018–2019)
Reach75 in (191 cm)
StyleKickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out ofBirmingham, Alabama, U.S.
TeamSpartan Fitness (formerly)
Fight Ready MMA (2020–present)[4]
RankBrown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[5]
Years active2012–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total24
Wins15
By knockout9
By submission1
By decision5
Losses8
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision6
No contests1
Other information
UniversityUniversity of Alabama
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Early life

Eryk Anders was born on a U.S. Air Force base in the Philippines, where his mother was stationed at the time.[2] When Anders was a sophomore in high school he moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he played football for Smithson Valley High School.[2]

Football career
Eryk Anders
No. 94
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1987-04-21) April 21, 1987
Clark Air Base, Pampanga, Luzon Islands, Philippines
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:Smithson Valley High School
(San Antonio, Texas)
College:Alabama
Undrafted:2010
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

After graduating from Smithson Valley High School, Anders started at the University of Alabama in 2006.[7] From 2006 to 2009, Anders played for the Crimson Tide as a linebacker, starting 14 games in his senior season.[8] His career at Alabama culminated with a victory in the 2009 BCS National Championship against the Texas Longhorns, a game in which he led the Crimson Tide with seven tackles and a forced fumble.[9]

After college he signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. He also had stints in the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League before beginning a career in mixed martial arts.[2]

Even several years into his MMA career, Anders keeps in touch with Nick Saban, having the coach as a life coach of sorts, helping guide Anders in life, financially and being responsible.[10]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Anders began his mixed martial arts career in 2012 as an amateur, participating in 22 amateur bouts, although his official record is listed as 13-3-1[11][12] before his professional debut against Josh Rasberry on August 22, 2015, for Strike Hard Productions.[13] He defeated Rasberry in just 40 seconds via TKO.[14]

In his second professional fight, Anders defeated Demarcus Sharpe by unanimous decision.[15]

Anders defeated Garrick James by TKO.[16]

Anders next defeated Dekaire Sanders by submission via rear naked choke.[17]

For his fifth professional fight he defeated Jesse Grun via TKO due to punches.[18]

Bellator MMA

Anders made his Bellator debut on October 21, 2016, defeating Brian White by TKO in 23 seconds.[19]

Legacy Fighting Alliance

Anders next joined Legacy Fighting Alliance. He defeated Jon Kirk by TKO at LFA 6 on March 10, 2017.[20]

On June 23, 2017, Anders fought for the Legacy Fighting Alliance middleweight championship at LFA 14. He defeated Brendan Allen via unanimous decision to win the title.[21]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Anders made his UFC debut against Rafael Natal at UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum, as a late replacement for Alessio Di Chirico who was forced to withdraw due to a neck injury.[22] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[23]

Anders was expected to face John Phillips on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 123.[24] However, Phillips was removed from the card and was replaced by promotional newcomer Markus Perez on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 123.[25] Anders won the fight by unanimous decision.[26]

Anders faced Lyoto Machida on February 3, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 125.[27] He lost the fight via controversial split decision.[28] 16 of 23 media outlets scored the fight for Anders.[29]

Anders faced Tim Williams on August 25, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 135.[30] He won the fight via knockout due to a head kick in the third round.[31] This fight earned him the Performance of Night award.[32]

Anders was tabbed as a short notice replacement for Jimi Manuwa, and faced Thiago Santos in a light heavyweight bout at UFC Fight Night 137.[33] Anders lost via referee stoppage TKO when he collapsed and failed to make it to his corner at the conclusion of round three.[34] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[35]

Making a quick turnaround to the Octagon, Anders returned to middleweight to replace Antônio Carlos Júnior in a bout against Elias Theodorou at UFC 231 on December 8, 2018.[36][37] He lost the fight via split decision.[38]

Anders faced Khalil Rountree Jr. on April 13, 2019, at UFC 236.[39] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[40]

Anders faced Vinicius Moreira, replacing Roman Dolidze, on June 29, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 3.[41] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[42] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[43]

Anders faced Gerald Meerschaert in a middleweight bout on October 12, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 161.[44] He won the fight via split decision.[45]

Anders was scheduled to face Krzysztof Jotko on April 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris.[46] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed[47] to May 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris.[48] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[49]

Anders was scheduled to face Antônio Arroyo, replacing Andreas Michailidis, on November 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 183.[50] Anders was cornering his teammate, Walt Harris on Fight Island in UFC 254 when he got the call to step in for Michailidis.[51] At the weigh-ins, Anders weighed in at 187.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the middleweight non-title fight limit.[52] Anders eventually pulled out of the fight the next day as consequence of the weigh-cut and his bout was canceled.[53]

Anders faced Darren Stewart on March 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 187.[54] Due to an illegal knee thrown by Anders in round one, the fight was declared a no contest.[55]

Anders faced Darren Stewart at light heavyweight in a rematch on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263.[56] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[57]

Anders was scheduled to face Roman Dolidze on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197.[58] However, Anders was pulled the event for undisclosed reasons,[59] and he was replaced by Kyle Daukaus.[60]

Anders faced André Muniz, replacing injured Dricus Du Plessis, on December 11, 2021, at UFC 269.[61] He lost the fight via an armbar submission in the first round.[62]

Anders faced Jun Yong Park on May 21, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 206.[63] He lost the bout via split decision.[64]

Anders faced Kyle Daukaus on December 3, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 42.[65] He won the bout via TKO stoppage in the second round.[66]

Anders faced Marc-André Barriault on June 10, 2023, at UFC 289.[67] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[68] The bout won the Fight of the Night bonus award.[69]

Personal life

Anders is married[70] with two sons.[71]

Entertainment career

In 2022, Anders made his acting debut as an MMA fighter in episode 2 of season 5 of the Netflix series Cobra Kai.[72]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Football

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
24 matches 15 wins 8 losses
By knockout 9 1
By submission 1 1
By decision 5 6
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 15–8 (1) Marc-André Barriault Decision (unanimous) UFC 289 June 10, 2023 3 5:00 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Fight of the Night.
Win 15–7 (1) Kyle Daukaus TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland December 3, 2022 2 2:45 Orlando, Florida, United States
Loss 14–7 (1) Park Jun-yong Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira May 21, 2022 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 14–6 (1) André Muniz Submission (armbar) UFC 269 December 11, 2021 1 3:13 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 14–5 (1) Darren Stewart Decision (unanimous) UFC 263 June 12, 2021 3 5:00 Glendale, Arizona, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
NC 13–5 (1) Darren Stewart NC (illegal knee) UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad March 13, 2021 1 4:37 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Anders landed an illegal knee to Stewart's head, who was a downed opponent.
Loss 13–5 Krzysztof Jotko Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris May 16, 2020 3 5:00 Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Win 13–4 Gerald Meerschaert Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson October 12, 2019 3 5:00 Tampa, Florida, United States Return to Middleweight.
Win 12–4 Vinicius Moreira KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos June 29, 2019 1 1:18 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Performance of the Night.
Loss 11–4 Khalil Rountree Jr. Decision (unanimous) UFC 236 April 13, 2019 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Loss 11–3 Elias Theodorou Decision (split) UFC 231 December 8, 2018 3 5:00 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Middleweight bout.
Loss 11–2 Thiago Santos TKO (elbows) UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders September 22, 2018 3 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil Light Heavyweight debut. Fight of the Night.
Win 11–1 Tim Williams KO (soccer kick) UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick August 25, 2018 3 4:42 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States Performance of Night.
Loss 10–1 Lyoto Machida Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Anders February 3, 2018 5 5:00 Belém, Brazil
Win 10–0 Markus Perez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega December 9, 2017 3 5:00 Fresno, California, United States
Win 9–0 Rafael Natal KO (punches) UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum July 22, 2017 1 2:54 Uniondale, New York, United States
Win 8–0 Brendan Allen Decision (unanimous) LFA 14 June 23, 2017 5 5:00 Houston, Texas, United States Won the inaugural LFA Middleweight Championship.
Win 7–0 Jon Kirk TKO (punches) LFA 6 March 10, 2017 1 1:35 San Antonio, Texas, United States Catchweight (190 lb) bout.
Win 6–0 Brian White TKO (punches) Bellator 162 October 21, 2016 1 0:23 Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win 5–0 Jesse Grun TKO (punches) Valor Fights 37: Grun vs. Anders August 27, 2016 1 3:18 Cleveland, Tennessee, United States
Win 4–0 Dekaire Sanders Submission (rear-naked choke) V3 Fights: Sanders vs. Anders June 18, 2016 1 0:33 Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win 3–0 Garrick James TKO (punches) Strike Hard Productions 42 May 14, 2016 3 4:07 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Win 2–0 Demarcus Sharpe Decision (unanimous) SFC - Southern Explosion 1 October 20, 2015 3 5:00 Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Win 1–0 Josh Rasberry TKO (punches) Strike Hard Productions 40 August 22, 2015 1 0:40 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States Middleweight debut.

[74]

References
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