Goldberg discusses difficult time between UFC and Bellator
Mike Goldberg: “The last six months were as difficult as any period of my life. And it was professional, wasn’t personal.”
After UFC 207 on December 30, 2016 longtime play-by-play commentator Mike Goldberg was released without a public goodbye, or apparently a private one. He is one among many dozens of former employees that were released by the new owners WME-IMG. Early in December the UFC had informed Goldberg his contract would not be renewed, and he did the remaining shows with his characteristic professionalism.
His first UFC was Ultimate Japan on December 21, 1997. He first paired with Joe Rogan at UFC 40 November 22, 2002. And the duo worked nearly all UFC events prior to the FOX deal, including pay per view, SPIKE TV, and Versus.
He will begin working for Bellator MMA on Saturday at Bellator 180, 176 days from his last MMA commentating. During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Goldberg described the difficult months between his UFC departure and signing with his new employer.
Goldberg will work the Bellator 180 prelims, and will then anchor the desk while Maura Ranallo will do play-by-play for the pay-per-view Bellator NYC.
“The last six months were as difficult as any period of my life, he said, as transcribed by Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting. “And it was professional, wasn’t personal, but it was as difficult as any six months in my life. And it’s weird, though, because what was difficult was that everybody that I spoke to said ‘Oh, it’s a no brainer, you’re gonna be great with us, it’s a no brainer, let’s make it happen.’
“When you’re dealing with big corporations and there’s a lot of moving parts, ‘Let’s make this happen in February or March’, in the corporate world, happens in June. And in my world, in that time, you just want to have it, you just want that text or email or that call to say ‘Hey, Goldie, you’re back in the game.’”
“It was difficult. What pushed me through it, and what kept me motivated — obviously, my family is first and foremost — were the fans and the tweets that continued, and the praise and the ‘We miss you, Goldie’, ‘When are you coming back?’ That energized me.”
“I’m glad those six months are behind me. And that will just be a small blip on a long, long career. But it was difficult. It was difficult, first and foremost, because I love what I do, and I was anxious to get back to doing it.”
“Nineteen years I got to do that, right outside the Octagon, and always well. If I didn’t have those 19 years, I wouldn’t be in the position that I am right now, headed to New York City later today to do a pay-per-view broadcast from the world’s most famous arena. I bring with me all the great memories, I bring with me all the positive vibes.
“I’m on a journey now that is pretty cool, and I’m anxious to see what the destination is gonna turn out to be. But I’m all in.”
Welcome back Goldie! We missed you.