Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) changed forever when it was sold by Zuffa LLC to WME-IMG in 2016.
What was a smaller change in the grand scheme of things stuck with fans early as longtime play-by-play commentator, Mike Goldberg, was one of the most noticeable on-screen casualties. With UFC fulfilling its final year under Zuffa, UFC 207 at the end of 2016 was Goldberg’s last event for the promotion alongside commentary partner, Joe Rogan.
Eight years later, Goldberg has since done work with Bellator and other combat sports promotions like Triad Combat. Recently reflecting on the end of his tenure, Goldberg was in negotiations with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and remembered going to UFC CEO, Dana White, and former owner, Lorenzo Fertitta, to share his offer.
“I didn’t want to leave. I was honored to go there but I didn’t want to leave [UFC],” Goldberg said of his WWE offer on JAXXON PODCAST. “I’d been in Casino Magic enough times, man. I ate at the Crackerbarrel in Kenner, Louisiana enough. I wanted to see — this beautiful yacht, the WWE, had already poured it all over the world. Our yacht was still in the water but you knew we were getting really close to a cool-ass island. Probably owned exclusively by the Fertittas but it was gonna be great.
“Joe on that Monday night goes, ‘’Goldie,’ you’re not gonna leave me to go do porn, are you? You’re not gonna do porn,’” he continued. “I’m like laughing, and Dana did the math and he said, ‘Keep in mind, ‘Goldie,’ you’ll do 52 shows with them. So, we’re gonna pay you this much per show.’ It was less money at the time but then we doubled our shows. Joe literally also was a big proponent at the time. The show was at the Hard Rock, he went up to talk to Dana and Lorenzo and he said, ‘I love ‘Goldie,’ he’s my guy. We’ve got great chemistry, don’t mess with it. Don’t let him go.’”
For years, UFC commentary exclusively featured a two-man booth with Goldberg and Rogan or the occasional swap out or addition of someone else on color. In the current landscape, a three-man booth is commonplace with a revolving combination of multiple play-by-play and color commentators.
UFC has turned heavily to having former fighters in on the calls, which led to the departures of popular names like Jimmy Smith after Goldberg.
“The sale still bums me out,” Goldberg said. “I think I was one of the pieces that should have continued but it’s not for me to decide. People know what we’ve gone through but I’m not gonna be a f*cking whiner about it. Nobody wants to hear that because that just brings ya down to anybody else’s level.
“Obviously, I was smashed. I was heartbroken,” he concluded. “I helped build that product. It just became a time where I wanted to keep on the voyage and I’m glad I did because I saw the world in my days with the UFC.”
While his separation from UFC wasn’t ideal, Goldberg holds no ill will toward anyone. Between his bosses, White and Fertitta, Goldberg admits there isn’t much of a relationship with either in 2024. That doesn’t mean things are on bad terms. At least he doesn’t believe so.
“I can’t find Lorenzo now,” Goldberg said. “If you think about it, other than just a few fights, he’s just gone on to the next. If I saw him, it would be a very pleasurable conversation.
“With Dana, I don’t know, he liked to pick on me a little bit,” he continued. “I always felt like I towed the company line. If Dana said, ‘This is what we’re gonna do, we’re not gonna talk about losses.’ I never argued. I don’t know. I’d be honored to do it again and I have huge respect for Dana but who knows? I don’t think he hates me but we’re not pen pals.”
Couldn’t stand that corny bastard.
Saw him comentating some fights in a triangular ring a while ago.
I thought he was great
I wonder how often commentators get blamed for mandatory biases.
I’ve always talked shit about Joe’s biased commentary but some of that bias was probably somebody else’s.
This…Goldy was awesome
We used to dunk on Goldie all the time back in the day, but Cormier is much worse than him. Even Jon Anik says stupid shit that rivals the dumbest things Goldie ever said - but without the charm. I’m sure it’s the nostalgia, but I miss hearing him.
The higher ups really do control a lot of details.
One that comes to mind is back when Dana used to have those Vlogs before PPV events.
Basically, some guy would follow him around and you’d see a lot of behind the scenes stuff leading up to fight night. They still have the countdown shows, but this had a different feel to it.
Anyways, it showed Dana and a couple of other UFC staff sitting in the stands a night or two before a PPV and they were going through the intro on the arena’s big screens.
Well, they showed Forrest Griffin’s graphics and it said “Born: Columbus, OH”
Dana was like “whoa whoa whoa, no. He’s an Athens guy. We marketed him as an Athens, GA guy.”
The night of the PPV, when Forrest walked out, it said “Athens, GA.” underneath his name and the word “born” was omitted.
People now want experts in the field to do commentary but I miss the days when commentators were just hype men with great voices, same with the nfl. I don’t need Tony Romo predicting the next play I need Chris Berman going WHOOP!
Anik is definitely a dryer, less likable Goldberg. Neither one are actually that good though, but Goldberg was better.
The best announcers for combat sports are those with unique voices who can be over the top and passionate. Michael Schiavello, Jim Lampley, even good old JR.
Jon Anik talks way too much about Gambling & private matters regarding fighters. It was hilarious watching Jon Jones push his little ass down.
Maybe its nostalgia but the best commentary pairing for me has always been goldberg and rogan.
Yeah goldberg had his flaws but ive missed him since hes been gone.
Same with Rogan, ppl complain a lot about his commentary but we will miss it when he stops.
Schiavallo and mauro get on my nerves, they are not bad but too OTT, like Jim Ross, difference being JR is commentating on a performance.
He was a lovable idiot, he was a personality and Rogan was fucking gold playing off of him.
They haven’t been able to string together a single coherent team since and its just been a fucking mess. Is that 8 years now? And they haven’t been able to figure it out. Brutal.
I always liked Goldberg. I was bummed when he got turfed. I always hoped he ended up doing okay.
Goldberg and Rogan was a lot like Bas and Quandros. Separately they weren’t objectively great, but together, they were magic. Hell, unlike most people I suspect, I also feel that way about Lampley, Merchant and Foreman. They were very flawed at what they did on the mic, but it was spellbinding in the moment.
Dude gave us “virtually identical”. He’ll always have a place in my heart
I always liked him. Everyone since has sounded like the same corporate man
This…
I wasn’t the greatest fan of Goldie but to me he was way better than having Anik and DC on the commentary team.