UFC 207 will always be remembered as the event where Ronda Rousey's heavily hyped comeback party was swiftly destroyed by Amanda Nunes, but it also represented the end of an era for the broadcast presentation side of the organisation.
Mike Goldberg has been commentating on the UFC far longer than most current fans of MMA can remember. Through different owners, Goldie remained a constant alongside Joe Rogan, and while he certainly wasn't everyone's cup of tea and made some frankly baffling comments and mistakes during his time on the microphone, it is really strange that he has left the company in a cloud of speculation and confusion.
Goldberg won't be commentating on another UFC event, 207 was his last one, and the organisation are moving on as they have signed a former WWE commentator and ESPN analyst, Todd Grisham, to fill the void while Dana White tries to secure the 'dream' commentator that he hinted he had wrapped up last month.
There was no official confirmation as to why Goldberg was relieved of his duties, and that is really, really strange. Why wouldn't they disclose the reason?
When asked in the lead up to UFC 207 whether or not this was Mike's decision, or one taken by the UFC, Dana White said:
When these kinds of things happen I'd rather not talk about it.
OK then...
Chael Sonnen, on his podcast 'You're Welcome!' admitted how surprised he was by the lack of noise surrounding the departure of such a notable figure in the company.
I'll tell you this, he's good. I mean, he's damn good and his voice.. He is the voice for that role.
He's been around for ever, around in the Zuffa days, the Alphabet days, and he'll be missed. I guess that's just my message, great job Goldie, great career, thank you for the wonderful memories...
But it did catch me off guard and there was no goodbye. I don't feel like there was a proper goodbye.
Those sentiments were echoed by Jim Norton, speaking on 'UFC unfiltered'... Which is an official UFC podcast that Dana White himself has appeared on and is hosted with White's good friend Matt Serra.
A fond farewell to Mike Goldberg. I had no idea, I heard rumours that he was leaving, I didn't realise that this was his last broadcast.
His son went on social media and kind of blasted the UFC for not doing a big send-off, now I don't know any of the details so I'm purely guessing, but that might have been Mike's decision. The UFC might have said 'do you want to say something at the end' and he could have said 'No.'
But I have no idea why he left, I don't know if he was fired, or if he quit.
That suggestion, that Goldberg himself opted not to say anything, is certainly possible, although perhaps he would have informed his son before the following tweets were sent:
my dad did so much for the UFC over the past 13 years and they can't even give him a proper goodbye. what a joke @ufc
— kole (@kolegoldberg) December 31, 2016
20 years** what an embarrassment @ufc https://t.co/2eHoF4fV6l
— kole (@kolegoldberg) December 31, 2016
So he's worked with the company for 20 years, has one of the most instantly recognisable voices in all of sports broadcasting because he is involved with almost every memorable UFC moment, and he's leaving the company. Surely a proper goodbye and a sendoff isn't too much to ask?
Mike Goldberg has had his fair share of personal problems. In fact, he has directly pissed Dana White off while live on air before, such as this moment after UFC 148 where Goldie can be heard screaming 'I'M NAKED!' in the background of an interview:
So perhaps the higher-ups at the UFC are not on the best of terms with Goldberg, but still, he surely deserved a bit more love for the service he gave over the past two decades.
We'll surely hear more in the coming weeks and months, and Goldberg may opt to break his silence and tell all, but until then it seems as though he has just been discarded by the UFC without so much as a thank you.
Mike Goldberg's last words ever in the UFC: "Happy new year everyone. So long."
— Petey & Jia (@PeteyandJia) December 31, 2016
