Mike Goldberg has been the UFC color commentator for nearly two decades, beginning with UFC Japan in 1997, but at UFC 207 this Friday Night, his tenure could be coming to an end.
MMA Fighting’s Luke Thomas are both reporting that UFC 207 will be the final event for Goldberg, who will be stepping down and leaving the promotion after the event.
There’s no official word yet on who will be replacing Goldberg and joining Joe Rogan in calling UFC pay-per-view events, although Chael Sonnen said that Jim Rome would be stepping into the position. Goldberg and Rogan have been calling UFC pay-per-views and other televised events since UFC 40 in November 2002.
“That is true,” UFC President Dana White said at a media scrum. “When these kind of things happen I’d rather not talk about it. If Mike wants to talk about it, ask Mike.”
Other than the duo of Goldberg and Rogan, personalities such as Dan Hardy, Brian Stann, Kenny Florian, John Anik and John Gooden have also sat behind the commentary table. The duties of the commentary team have expanded since the UFC signed a deal with Fox a few years ago and subsequently increased the number of events they were running.
Rogan has also seen his duties shrink in the last few years, mainly by his own doing because the last contract he signed would only see him call pay-per-view events in North America. Neither Goldberg or the UFC have issued any form of statement on the matter, but with UFC 207 only a few days away, official word could come at any point.
