Mike Goldberg issues statement on departure after final event for promotion at UFC 207

The UFC’s final event of 2016 brought with it the end of an era – and we’re not talking about the dismantling of Ronda Rousey.

At UFC 207 in Las Vegas, which took place Dec. 30 at T-Mobile Arena, longtime play-by-play voice Mike Goldberg called his final event for the promotion. Word began to trickle out in the days leading up to the pay-per-view that Goldberg would not be returning in 2017 – though the UFC itself never made a formal announcement before, during or after the broadcast that the event would be his last.

At the end of the broadcast, which featured women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes taking out Rousey in 48 seconds in the headliner, Goldberg took a matter of a few seconds to thank some of the UFC’s broadcast production team, calling them “family,” but never formally said he’d be leaving the job.

We still don’t know the exact circumstances of Goldberg’s split with the promotion, but the veteran broadcaster issued a statement late Friday on his Twitter account giving an official thanks to supporters.

“I wish I could respond to every single fan, fighter and member of the media who reached out and showed their support, gratitude and appreciation,” Goldberg posted. “It has been overwhelming and so gratifying! Thank you!!

“Every single UFC, from Ultimate Japan to UFC 207, my primary focus has been on just 2 things! First, to bring passion, energy and raw emotion to our fans around the world, dedicated, diehard fans like none other! Second, to properly represent each and every fighter, from UFC newcomer to veterans with 20 plus Octagon battles, our fighters work so hard and sacrifice so much it was my responsibility to properly prepare and tell their stories!!”

In closing his statement, Goldberg gave a plug to a recent “Tommy Toe Hold Show” video that paid tribute to Goldberg’s career with the UFC, then took a playful jab at himself and one of his most famous on-air comments – one that has been the subject of critic fodder for years:

“And just for the record, I still believe that Anderson Silva’s Precision is Precise,” Goldberg posted.

Goldberg worked the UFC broadcast booth around the world for nearly two decades, primarily with color commentator partner Joe Rogan. Rogan did not mention Goldberg’s departure during the UFC 207 broadcast. Rogan recently restructured his contract to continue with the UFC in 2017 – but with a lessened schedule that consists mainly of pay-per-view events in North America, though he also is a part of many of the promotion’s event preview videos.

Although Goldberg had many critics for on-air faux pas, name pronunciation, a sometimes perceived lack of technical knowledge about how fights were playing out, and his level of emotion calling fights, he and Rogan have become synonymous with televised UFC events. In the days leading up to UFC 207, UFC President Dana White confirmed “Goldie” would call his final UFC show at UFC 207.

White also has said he has long wanted to build a “dream team” in the broadcast booth, and that he was close to making that happen. He didn’t reveal any names, but rumors featuring Jim Rome and Max Kellerman have run rampant since news of Goldberg’s departure broke.

Following UFC 207, fighters and MMA luminaries acknowledged Goldberg’s contributions to the sport and the UFC in particular – though Goldberg’s son, Kole, tweeted his frustration that the promotion didn’t give his father any kind of send-off.

Goldberg has not made an announcement of what may be next for him professionally. He has a long history doing NHL play-by-play, including as the voice of the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild. Soon after UFC 207 was in the books, Goldberg started following the official Bellator MMA account on Twitter, as well as the official account for ONE Championship and ONE executives Victor Cui and Rich Franklin – so perhaps a return to an MMA booth is something he hopes is in the cards.

For complete coverage of UFC 207, check out the UFC Events section of the site.