The Potential "Mike Goldberg" Effect
The views and opinions expressed below are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mmafighting.com. Please note that this is also my first article and it may be a little rough around the edges. I am nothing more than a dedicated fan of mixed martial arts who also has a love for broadcasting. I would love to pursue a career in MMA broadcast journalism, but to do that, I need to publish some opinion pieces. This is my first one. I hope you enjoy it.
On Friday, Dec. 30, the voice of Mike Goldberg will be heard on a UFC broadcast for the last time. As a fan of mixed martial arts since 2010, a nostalgic part of me is gutted. Goldberg's voice has added prominence and weight to some of the most exciting events in the company's history. Whether this is due to longevity or talent is up for debate, but the fact still remains that when fans hear the voice of Mike Goldberg, they know they are about to witness something excitng.
Goldberg has already followed the official Twitter accounts of Bellator MMA and One Championship - which was done only after news broke that UFC 207 would be his final broadcast. While a simple Twitter "follow" can mean very little in reality, it is not something to be left ignored. I'll bite.
Let's envision a world where Mike Goldberg is the lead commentator for Bellator MMA. There is a large portion of casual mixed martial arts fans who fail to distingish UFC broadcasts from those of Bellator regardless of the visual differences on screen. With Goldberg as the voice of Bellator, the auditory differences would be greatly minimized too. From a fan's perspective, Bellator may come off as the "hero that saved the day;" that is, a world in which the abandoned Mike Goldberg was given a place to work, fighters are free to pick their own sponsors, and high-profile content is delivered to fans on an easily-accessible network. Am I exaggerating the effect that Mike Goldberg's presence would have on a Bellator broadcast? Perhaps. But these little events can lead up to something big: a world in which Bellator is competitive (in terms of fighter appeal) with the UFC.
I know what you're thinking. "There are many more differences between the UFC and Bellator than simply sponsor rules and broadcasting networks. You can't actually be implying that if Mike Goldberg jumps to Bellator, fans will instantly view Bellator as being equal to the UFC, right?"
Let's make it clear that this is not what I am implying. Rather, I am arguing that, in a world where casual fans are catered to over hardcore fans of the sport, Bellator (or any other promotion for that matter) needs whoever they can get on their side to lessen the distinctiveness between them and the UFC. The acquisition of Mike Goldberg by Bellator would be a significant step in this direction. Anything that can improve the perception of other promotions is a win for the sport of mixed martial arts, since this will lead to greater competition and an overall improvement of the general product. As for Mike Goldberg's run in the UFC, it is all over. As for new perspectives of other promotions in the MMA landscape, they may be just starting.
We'll miss you, Goldie.
- S.M.