
Eryk “Ya Boy” Anders always believed “You’re only as good as your last performance.”
His last UFC fight in Minneapolis, MN. set the bar high for the 32-year-old light heavyweight. The bout against Vinicius Moreira ended in favor of Anders due to punches in round 1.
Anders (12-4-0) is used to setting high expectations for himself. Playing football in college for the University of Alabama, he always dreamed of being a professional athlete. When football didn’t pan out after playing for the Cleveland Browns and CFL, the athlete turned to MMA in 2012 and never looked back.
“When I started fighting, the UFC was one of my ultimate goals. I wasn’t going to stop until I got there.”
The father of two sons, Isreal and Noah, and husband to Yasmin, admits that it is difficult being away from his family during training.
“It’s not easy, but you gotta do what you gotta do, so you can do what you want to do,” he said. Anders knows the hardships he goes through for the sport are “worth it in the end”.
Next up for Anders will be a battle against Gerald “GM3” Meerschaert (30-11-0) on October 12 in Tampa, Florida. No matter the outcome, Eryk Anders always brings the fight head-on.
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The Scrap’s Caroline Romero is a journalism graduate and has 3 children involved in combat sport. Make sure to follow her son Simon Romero on his Behind The Grind podcast on YouTube.