UFC Considering Dropping Joe Rogan & Mike Goldberg For New TV Deal
The UFC commentary desk could be seeing some big changes in 2018, as Dave Meltzer is reporting that networks in play for the UFC’s broadcasting rights want to get rid of the ‘hype master’ style of announcing that is currently offered by commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg:
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
The UFC and FOX signed a deal back in 2011 giving FOX seven years of exclusive broadcasting rights to the leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, but with the deal nearing its end in 2018 the UFC is now hearing offers from other major broadcasting networks and is asking for a price tag of $450 million to get in on the sweepstakes.
It seems, however, the networks in the running are asking to mix-up the commentary for the program, which would mean the removal of the beloved duo of Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg. Rogan has recently reduced his workload for the UFC, as he is only working PPV events now and is no longer working events overseas.
Plenty of other viable candidates could be in play for replacing Rogan and Goldberg, as Kenny Florian and Brian Stann immediately jump to mind as they have been doing good work on the UFC’s Fight Night and international events as of late.
We still have a good amount of time to go before anything is official, but it could only be a matter of time before a huge chapter in the UFC’s history comes to a close in two of the most iconic voices the sport has ever heard.
