JUST LIKE THAT
It’s all over — as Mike Goldberg’s time with the UFC will reportedly come to an end at UFC 207 on Friday. The 19-year Ultimate Fighting Championship announcing veteran has been with the company since 1997 and has provided play-by-play for most of the numbered PPV events in company history.
Entimsports.com first reported on Wednesday that Mike Goldberg’s final assignment for the UFC will be this Friday’s Women’s Bantamweight Championship bout between current champion, Amanda ‘The Lioness’ Nunes, and a returning Ronda Rousey. The source that talked to Entimsports was unnamed, however MMA reporter Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) confirmed on Twitter that UFC 207 would be Mike Goldberg’s last event — silencing all skeptics.
@Grabaka_Hitman it’s true.
— Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) December 28, 2016
The news of the exit was first rumored last month after Goldberg’s longtime announcing partner, Joe Rogan, and former co-worker Eddie Bravo accidentally revealed the information on a recent edition of ‘The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast.’
Mike Goldberg has provided play-by-play commentary for thousands of fights inside the octagon, but ‘Goldy’ is perhaps best known for his blunders and blown calls while cage-side.
Mike Goldberg’s exit comes less than six months after WME-IMG purchased the UFC for a record $4 billion in July.
Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer indicated earlier this year that the new owners (Ari Emanuel and his WME-IMG buddies) weren’t pleased with the current style of announcing and that the company was looking to freshen things up.
Note from Meltzer regarding TV negotiations. Networks want to remove “hype master” Rogan/Goldberg style of announcing, UFC willing to change
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) November 29, 2016
There is not yet an official word on who may replace Mike Goldberg as Joe Rogan’s announcing partner in 2017.
