UFC Considering Firing Joe Rogan & Mike Goldberg For TV Deal

UFC To Pull Plug On Joe Rogan?

Days of Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan on live television are numbered. The UFC is considering to drop the play-by-play broadcast duo in 2018.

According to a report by Dave Meltzer, officials of the promotion seek to move on from the “Hype Master” style of announcing by Goldberg and Rogan.

Goldberg began his play-by-play announcing duties for the UFC in 1997. Rogan started as a backstage interviewer in the same year before he became color commentator in 2002.

Joe Rogan Has Long Been Synonymous With The UFC

The plans to scratch off both Goldberg and Rogan as the voice of the UFC broadcast stemmed from the MMA organization’s expiring television deal with FOX in 2018.

Networks that are battling for the UFC’s broadcast rights are now playing a pivotal factor in getting rid of Goldberg and Rogan.

The UFC is now hearing offers from other major broadcasting networks. The company is asking for a price tag as high as $450 million to get in on the sweepstakes.

However, these television companies want to mix up the commentary for the program. Which in turn would shelf the beloved tandem of Goldberg and Rogan.

Rogan has recently reduced his workload for the UFC as he is only working pay-per-view events. He is also no longer accepting assignments outside of the United States.

But The UFC Could Replace Rogan Very Soon

Jon Anik is the leading candidate to replace Goldberg as the lead commentator. Brian Stann and Kenny Florian are the top choices to fill in for Rogan.

A lot of changes have befuddled the UFC since its highly-publicized ownership change earlier this year.

The company sold for a whopping US $4-billion to investment firm WME-IMG. Longtime owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta then retired, however UFC President Dana White was kept on.

After that, most of the UFC top management had been let go as new blood came in to fill roles.

If Rogan and Goldberg both get nixed, it just goes to show how much change we are to expect from the UFC in the coming years.