Eryk Anders tells ‘ultimate’ bandwagon fan Drake to ‘not curse’ anymore athletes

Every now and then the wacky world of mixed martial arts is faced with strange superstitions. In 2016, the Eminem curse plighted fighters. Data gathered by a UFC fan suggested that as of Sept. 2016, 55.1 percent of UFC fighters that walked out to an Eminem song lost their fight. Drake seems to be the latest hip-hop artist plaguing sports and Eryk Anders is having none of it.

“Man, I think anybody Drake supports should have beef.” Anders told former UFC fighter Kajan Johnson and Bloody Elbow’s Shakiel Mahjouri on the Pull No Punches podcast. Even Anders’ old stomping grounds, college football team Alabama Crimson Tide, has suffered at the hands of the “God’s Plan” rapper.

“‘Bama got smashed by probably the biggest margin that they’ve lost by since Coach Saban’s been there. Serena Williams, Conor McGregor, the list goes on and on,” Anders noted. “He needs to sit back… Just keep it Toronto, do not curse anybody else.”

This writer has been accused of being a bandwagon fan on more than one occasion — shout out to the Vancouver Canuck’s 2011 Stanley Cup run — but Anders says Drake is the biggest bandwagon fan of them all. “The ultimate. I don’t think there is a bigger person in the history of sport. That dude just jumps from team to team,” he asserted. “He gotta keep that ‘Bama stuff off.”

Anders most recently lost a split decision to Elias Theodorou at UFC 231. The fight was close, no doubt, but Anders believes he should have his hand raised. “I think the only opinions that matters are the three judges. Do I think they got the call right? No,” he asserted. “I think he won the first round, I know I won the second.”

“Here is the thing. He landed eight more strikes than I did in the third round, but I was pushing the pace. My punches landed and significant strike percentages were higher. I think the eight strike differential [should not discredit] octagon control, aggression, all the other criteria they are supposed to score the fight on,” he argued. “I think I won the second and third round. I broke my hand in the second round and I still almost knocked him out. He won, congratulations to him. It is what it is.”

Anders was scheduled to meet with doctors the day the podcast was recorded. He said whatever was next for him was dependent on how that consultation went. Anders natural charisma and willingness to fight anyone seems to have put him in favor with UFC management, but a two-fight skid means Anders will have to make a serious impression in his next fight.