Jon Anik did it. He really did it. The UFC announcer stepped up and paid off his bet with the entirety of Stockton, California and beyond. Nate Diaz beat Conor McGregor at UFC 196, so he got a 209 tattoo on his forearm. Amazing.
If you’re unaware of the history of this short-but-beautiful beef, it started on Jon Anik and Kenny Florian’s podcast, in which Anik gave Nate Diaz zero chance to defeat the featherweight champ on only ten days of notice. (H/T Bloody Elbow for the transcription.)
“I’m going to say it here for the masses to hear. I will get the area code ‘209’ tattooed on the inside of my forearm, if Nate Diaz beats Conor McGregor. I got Conor in Round 1.”
Anik went on to explain his McGregor pick:
“I got Conor McGregor, I got him by first round knockout or TKO. I’m just not convinced, as much as you know I love these Diaz brothers, that Nate is in championship shape. And I think cardio has always been a big key to his style, to his success.
One thing you know about Conor McGregor, is that he is most definitely in championship condition. I think he’s the far more lethal striker.
I like the Diaz brothers, so I would actually be okay throwing that 209 on the forearm. But yes, I do think it’s a huge ask for Nate Diaz, so I will get my first tattoo of my life at 37 years old if Conor McGregor loses Saturday.”
But it turned that Conor did gas, even after being in peak condition at the end of a championship-level camp without cutting any weight, and with Nate doing shots on a yacht in Cabo when he got the call. So at the end of the UFC 196 post-fight presser, Diaz hopped on the mic and got the final word, yelling:
“Yo! Yo! Jon Anik better get a motherf*cking 209 tattoo or I’m gonna whoop his little ass.”
To which Anik replied:
Looking for the finest tattoo artist in South Florida. All hail Nate Diaz. Honored to pay tribute to the Diaz bros. & an all-time great win.
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) March 6, 2016
In the end, Nate let Anik off the hook because he just made a few million bucks so who cares? But Anik wouldn’t back down. He stepped up, like Nate and Conor did, and delivered on his word in a big way.