Eryk Anders is returning to the Octagon at UFC 236, facing Khalil Rountree in a light heavyweight division affair.
The fighter recently started training at Factory X and the time there has already taught Anders a valuable lesson.
“...one of the things we are working on while I am up here is not every strike has to land. I was trying to take his (Elias Theodorou’s) head off with every punch, instead of just picking him apart and setting up shots. So that’s something we’re definitely working on up here, I think if I had applied that to you know…even the Machida fight as well as the Theodorou (fight). I’d come out of those spots with my hand raised,” says Anders in an exclusive interview with Fightful’s James Lynch.
Anders has won just one of his last four under the UFC banner, with two of those losses coming by way of split decision.
Rountree and Anders have sparred against each other in the past, which Anders believes will make for a better fight at UFC 236.
“No, it’s not fresh man. We’ve hung out, we’ve kicked it a little bit in the past…sparred. I felt him, he felt me. I think we both know what we’re getting ourselves into, I think for the fans anyways…it will be a good fight and fun to watch,” says Anders.
UFC 236 takes place on Saturday, April 13 from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia with Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
