The mixed martial arts community was shocked to find out that Mike Goldberg would be parting ways with the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the end of 2016. Goldberg has been the voice of the octagon alongside Joe Rogan during the most important years of the sport and company’s growth and the new owners letting Goldberg go rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.
Still, Goldberg accepted the departure and after following several rival companies on social media, Goldberg made an on-screen appearance at “UFC Fight Night 103” on January 15, 2017 while awkwardly placed in the crowd. Now a fan, Goldberg found himself a seat and cheered on for the fights just like the people around him.
Goldberg explained to MMA Hour why he was in the crowd at an event he could have easily watched from his television at home:
“I also went to that fight that night in my hometown to say thank you, because going back to what you had asked about (UFC) 207, everything was very laser-focused on the direct people who were with me and back in the dressing room. I didn’t get (a chance) to say thank you to the Reed Harrises and the Joe Williams, and Mike the Photographer, and everybody else in the truck, because I didn’t see them.”
