UFC Fight Night 253 Features Two-Man Commentary Booth with Jon Anik and Dominick Cruz

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Feb 25, 2025, 12:51 IST

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UFC Fight Night 253 will be held at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Veteran broadcaster Dan Hellie will host, with analysts Kamaru Usman and Din Thomas. Commentary will be provided by Jon Anik and Dominick Cruz. The event will be streamed live on ESPN+.

UFC Fight Night 253 Features Two-Man Commentary Booth with Jon Anik and Dominick Cruz

UFC Fight Night. Image via: UFC

UFC Fight Night 253is scheduled to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, continuing the promotion’s February event schedule. A team of experienced on-air talent will guide viewers through the broadcast and provide in-depth analysis of the fights. The event will be streamed live on ESPN+ in the United States. The preliminary card is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET and the main card will follow at 7 p.m. ET.

Introducing the broadcast team for the UFC Fight Night 253: analysis, commentary, octagon insights and more

The event will have veteran broadcaster Dan Hellie serve as the desk anchor and host, leading the coverage. He will be joined by two well-known analysts, former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and veteran coach Din Thomas.
The backstage will be headed by Heidi Androl. She will be conducting pre-fight and post-fight interviews with the athletes along with delivering real-time updates on the event. This shall keep the fans updated of any breaking news or behind-the-scenes developments.

Veteran ring announcer Joe Martinez will take on the role of the event’s announcer, introducing the fighters before each bout. Known for his clear and professional attitude, Martinez has been a well-known figure in the MMA world and shall set the stage for the night.
Calling the fights from the cage side will be play-by-play commentator Jon Anik, a long-time voice of the UFC and one of the most respected broadcasters in the sport. Joining him in the commentary booth will be Dominick Cruz, the former UFC and WEC bantamweight champion. This will be Cruz’s first broadcast assignment since officially retiring from the competition. Notably, UFC Fight Night 253 will feature a two-man commentary booth. This has been a rare occurrence in the modern era of UFC broadcasts. The last time the promotion used a two-man booth was in August 2022, when Brendan Fitzgerald and Michael Bisping handled commentary duties for UFC on ESPN 40.
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The UFC Fight Night 253 promises to deliver an engaging and informative viewing experience for fans and the global fans are set to witness the high-octane fights.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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