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Former Alabama linebacker Eryk Anders set for UFC fight in December
By Cody McClure
Published:
Former Alabama linebacker Eryk Anders is set to fight a middleweight bout on Dec. 9 at “UFC Fight Night 123” in Fresno, California.
Anders will fight John Phillips.
It will be Anders’ first fight since July 23 when he knocked out Rafael Natal in his UFC debut in New York, according to a report from AL.com.
Anders announced the fight date on Monday afternoon.
Dec 9 I return back to the the octagon against John Phillips in Fresno, CA. We both like to throw hands so this one is sure to be a scrap. pic.twitter.com/lDiEWEOliq
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) September 25, 2017
Anders played for Alabama from 2006 to 2009. His senior year, he was a part of the Crimson Tide’s first national championship under head coach Nick Saban. Anders led Alabama with seven tackles in the 2009 national championship game against Texas.
Several of Anders’ former teammates are supportive of his fighting career, the report noted.
“Mark Ingram, Kareem Jackson, Alphonse Taylor, O.J. Howard – a bunch of guys,” Anders said. “Really showing a lot of love and respect for what I’m doing and what I did.”
Anders reportedly said he hoped Saban had taken note of his success, as well.
“He’s always looking for an example for the guys,” Anders said, “so maybe he’ll use me as an example as a guy who took the road less traveled, that sort of thing, and is kind of making it happen his own way.”
Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.
