Eryk Anders Retires After 2026 Win Over Tavares
Eryk Anders moved from Alabama football to the UFC, and in March 2026 he announced his retirement after a unanimous decision win over Brad Tavares. That ending followed a late-career run that included a second-round TKO of former champion Chris Weidman at UFC 310.
From football to the Octagon
Before his MMA career, Anders played linebacker for the University of Alabama and was part of the team that won the 2009 BCS National Championship. He made his UFC debut in 2017 and competed primarily at middleweight.
Weidman fight moved to UFC 310
Anders was originally scheduled to face Weidman at UFC 309, but the bout was canceled on event day because of a medical issue involving Anders. The matchup was rescheduled for UFC 310 on December 7, 2024. Anders won by TKO at 4:51 of Round 2.
The UFC’s UFC 309 update records the cancellation, and its UFC 310 results list the stoppage.
Retirement after a final win
Anders returned to the win column against Brad Tavares on March 14, 2026, taking a unanimous decision with scorecards of 30–27, 29–28 and 29–28. Afterward, he announced his retirement, ending a UFC career that spanned nine years.
Read the UFC’s event report and retirement announcement.
