UFC President Dana White confirmed that UFC 207 will be play-by-play announcer Mike Goldberg’s "final event with the promotion," according to Mike Johnston of SPORTSNET.ca. Rumors "surfaced in late November suggesting the UFC’s new ownership group was considering taking the promotion’s broadcasting style in a different direction." Goldberg, while often "heavily critiqued and even mocked by detractors, has been a part of many of the most iconic moments" in MMA history. He debuted with the UFC in '97 (SPORTSNET.ca, 12/28). MMAJUNKIE.com's Steven Marrocco noted Goldberg’s replacement is "not yet known." The UFC in recent years has "bolstered its commentary ranks as the promotion’s schedule has expanded; former ESPN personality and Bellator commentator Jon Anik and former UFC fighters Kenny Florian and Brian Stann have been hired to call the action" (MMAJUNKIE.com, 12/28). MMA reporter Chamatkar Sandhu tweeted, "If there's one guy who has earned his spot to take over Mike Goldberg's spot it's Jon Anik. Give him the shot IMO. ... If I'm Bellator I'm going after Mike Goldberg." YouTuber The True Geordie: "They should let Mike Goldberg say a goodbye 'inside the octagon' at the end of #UFC207 but knowing the UFC they won't have anything planned" (TWITTER.com, 12/29).
ROME-N HOLIDAY? MMA journalist Jeremy Botter reported CBS Sports Radio's Jim Rome will be Goldberg's "replacement." He wrote, "It’s not done yet, but talks are ongoing" (TWITTER.com, 12/28). White on Wednesday said that he has a "plan in the works for his new commentary team but it's not likely to debut until sometime deep" into '17. FOXSPORTS.com's Damon Martin noted White "teased he has a new play-by-play person in mind, but wasn't ready to reveal a name just yet" (FOXSPORTS.com, 12/28).
