UFC 207 was Mike Goldberg’s final event; disgracefully, there was no public goodbye. Being let go is a normal part of corporate life. The new owners have four billion reasons to run the company as they see fit, and have laid off a number of personnel.
That said, Golberg’s first event was UFC 15.5: Ultimate Japan on December 21, 1997. He first paired with Joe Rogan at UFC 40 November 22, 2002. He has worked occasionally awkwardly but always endearingly in front of the fans for 20 years. He got to make his goodbyes as the credits rolled. Goldberg later described the firing as shock and disbelief, and he is practiced at explaining sudden, violent actions.
There were rumors that the UFC was in negotiation with Jim Rome, but those either fell through, or are ongoing. Ariel Helwani tweeted the make up of the new broadcast team for UFC 208 on Saturday night.
https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/828049817230245889
It is not known how the roles will break out. However, Rogan doing the color commentary, with Anik does the play by play, and Cormier doing the analysis would make sense. One bright light in all this is the rise of Cormier’s role outside the Octagon. DC turns 38 next month, with a lifetime of wrestling behind him, and seven years of MMA, and his next fight is vs. Anthony Johnson, and Jon Jones is waiting, and a new generation of killers is emerging. That is not a great long-term career. It is great to see his verbal and personal skills coming through to his benefit, and ours.
UFC 208: Holm vs. de Randamie takes place on February 11, 2017, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The main event will take place on Pay Per View television if you live in the United States. The twelve fight card is now finalized:
Main Card (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Holly Holm vs. Germaine de Randamie for the inaugural women’s featherweight title
Derek Brunson vs. Anderson Silva
Tim Boetsch vs. Ronaldo Souza
Jared Cannonier vs. Glover Teixeira
Jim Miller vs. Dustin Poirier
Prelim Card (FS1, 8 p.m. ET)
Randy Brown vs. Belal Muhammad
Wilson Reis vs. Ulka Sasaki
Nik Lentz vs. Islam Makhachev
Jarred Brooks vs. Ian McCall
Prelim Card (UFC Fight Pass, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Marcin Tybura vs. Justin Willis
Roan Carneiro vs. Ryan LaFlare
Rick Glenn vs. Phillipe Nover
