Mike Goldberg can picture a scenario where he works with the UFC again.
The veteran combat sports broadcaster’s working relationship with the promotion came to an end in 2016 following the $4 billion sale of the UFC’s parent company Zuffa, LLC to the Endeavor group. Goldberg had called fights for the UFC for almost 20 years, but would not be part of its plans going forward.
In an appearance on the JAXXON podcast, Goldberg recalled the bitter disappointment he felt when he was relieved of his octagon-side duties.
“The sale still bums me out because I think I was one of the pieces that should have continued, but it’s not for me to decide… people know what we’ve gone through, but I’m not going to be a f*cking whiner about it,” Goldberg said. “Nobody wants to hear that, because that just brings down anybody else’s level.
“Obviously, I was smashed, I was heartbroken, because I helped build that product as a soundtrack. It just became a time in which I just wanted to keep on the voyage and I’m glad I did because I saw the world in my days with the UFC.”
Goldberg has continued to work in broadcast, most recently calling fights for Dada 5000’s BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle boxing promotion. He also worked with Bellator MMA from 2017-2021.
An iconic voice that was part of several of the UFC’s most memorable moments, Goldberg spoke glowingly of his relationship with longtime commentary partner Joe Rogan. His relationship with UFC executives Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta and Dana White is more complicated.
“Not really,” Goldberg said when asked if he still keeps in touch with his former bosses. “I can’t find Lorenzo now. If you think about it, other than a few fights, he’s just gone on to the next. If I saw him, it would be a very pleasurable conversation. With Dana, I don’t know, he liked to pick on me a little bit. I always felt like I toed the company line. If Dana said this is what we’re going to do, we’re not going to talk about losses, I never argued, ‘That’s not journalistically correct.’
“I don’t know, but I’d be honored to do it again, and I have huge respect for Dana. But who knows? I don’t think he hates me, but we’re not pen pals.”
Source : MMAFighting