Meet the Former Alabama Football Player Turned MMA Fighter

In Alabama, where sports talk doesn’t often stray from college football, UFC middleweight and former University of Alabama linebacker Eryk “Ya Boi” Anders has carved out a unique path. Making a name for himself in the popular international sport of mixed martial arts, he’s established himself as a model of versatility and perseverance for Iron City sports fans.

Anders played linebacker for the University of Alabama in their 2009 national championship win, leading the defensive charge with 7 tackles and an impressive forced fumble late in the 4th quarter on Texas’ Garrett Gilbert, sealing the game and beginning Nick Saban’s reign of terror as the program’s most accomplished head coach.

Anders didn’t decide to play professional football after his college career. Transitioning from football to MMA certainly wasn’t an easy task for Anders, but he’s now been competing at the highest level of the sport for many years. His 16 fights in the UFC’s 185-pound division have been a spectacle to behold.

“I went from a black belt in football to a white belt in fighting,” Eryk Anders shared with WBRC.

Anders has some seriously impressive performances under his belt. Training out of Spartan Fitness MMA in Birmingham, he has established himself as the face of Birmingham’s mixed martial arts scene. Prior to competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he earned a unanimous decision victory over Canadian contender Brendan Allen in the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), who is currently ranked #6 in the UFC middleweight rankings.

In his UFC debut in 2017 against Brazilian Rafael Natal, he won via brutal knockout after a hard-fought stand-up fight, even sending his opponent flying into the cage at one point. His first loss came to former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida via split decision. His resume speaks for itself: Anders has traded blows with the best of the best.

Anders, in addition to his excellent boxing and ground game, is known for his unwavering will in the octagon, even when the odds are against him. His fighting spirit was on display in another tough loss to aggressive Muay Thai technician Khalil Rountree Jr., who, throughout their 3-round fight, managed to knock out the steel-chinned “Ya Boi” multiple times.

He may not have come away with the win that night. Yet in a situation where most other fighters would have considered throwing in the towel, Anders gave it his all until the final bell, not letting himself be defeated. Only in a place called the Iron City can you forge an unwavering will like Anders’. He has only been knocked out once in the UFC, an incredibly impressive statistic for fighters with 16 fights under their belt in the promotion.

His journey across the field and into the octagon is an inspiration to all Birmingham sports fans and has also played a role in many Alabama football fans becoming fans of the sport. He trains at Spartan Fitness MMA, a renowned gym in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood.

The gym itself has a stellar reputation. Walt “The Big Ticket” Harris, a highly regarded Homewood native who was once ranked 14th in the 260-pound heavyweight division, also trains at Spartan Fitness. Harris’ best win was another stunning knockout over Russian contender Serghei Spivac, one of the top wrestlers in the division.

Ander’s unique sporting journey is inspiring, and his role in showcasing Birmingham’s mixed martial arts scene has been nothing short of instrumental.

Courtesy of SoulGrown Alabama.