Jon Anik on Diaz tattoo bet: No problem branding myself forever with that 209

Jon Anik’s now infamous tattoo bet on the result of Nate Diaz’s UFC 196 bout with Conor McGregor wasn’t quite the risk some made it out to be for the UFC commentator. In fact, Anik told MMAjunkie Radio he probably would have gotten the tattoo even had Diaz lost.

Instead, Diaz (19-10 MMA, 14-8 UFC) picked up a stunning second-round rear-naked choke to score the upset.

On his podcast, Anik said he’d get a “209” tattoo (the area code for the Stockton, Calif. area repped by the Diaz brothers). He proved to be a man of his word, getting the tattoo and preventing Diaz’s threat of a slapping.

Speaking with MMAjunkie Radio, Anik said that his club life has gotten easier since picking up a little ink.

“Two weeks ago I had a real hard time (getting into clubs),” Anik joked. “Now that I’ve got this 209 tattoo I can get in anywhere.”

Anik has long been a fan of the Diaz brothers and said the bet had no real downside for him.

While his wife was only briefly a fan of his new permanent markings, Anik said he’s already had the opportunity to have a little fun with it.

“I still think I’ve got to be careful going anywhere near Stockton, Calif., at least for a couple more weeks,” Anik said. “There’s a lot of people in that 209 who the last people they want is me repping them. Obviously, it was a bit of a crazy situation in and around UFC 196. But it was nice to see some of the Skrap Pack in Brisbane, Australia. Leslie Smith, of course, got the win and her team wanted a picture with the 209. So, we’ve had fun with it. Ultimately, at the root of it, this was just a fun bit

“Ultimately, at the root of it, this was just a fun bit for our podcast and a potential way for me to honor guys who have been at or near the top of my list of favorite fighters for years. I have loved Nick Diaz since I started watching MMA. That was part of the impetus behind the tattoo bet, that if Conor McGregor did lose, I’d have no problem branding myself forever with that 209. So, it’s been a little bit crazy at times, certainly for my wife. But all is well that ends well.”

For complete coverage of UFC 196, check out the UFC Events section of the site.