Ahead of UFC play-by-play debut, Todd Grisham talks expectations and longtime MMA interest

After last month’s big Twitter handle change, Todd Grisham will take yet another major step in his UFC career this Sunday as he takes on the play-by-play duties for UFC Fight Night 105.

But while this will mark the broadcast veteran’s first time filling this specific role with the company, it’s not like he’s a total neophyte when it comes to MMA. Speaking to MMAjunkie Radio on Tuesday, Grisham revealed that, professional involvement aside, his UFC fascination actually started in his teens.

“I watched UFC 14 as a fan in Birmingham, Alabama,” Grisham said. “Mark Coleman (and) Maurice Smith (were) the main event. So I’ve always loved the sport. And then as a kid I also liked watching WWE but kind of grew out of that. And as I grew out of that, I really started focusing on MMA.

“There was a period for like four or five years when I was watching every single pay-per-view, and then I started getting into other stuff. And then as I came back to ESPN five years ago, I was lucky enough to be the host of ‘MMA Live’ and for the past five years I’ve probably been to what, 20-some-odd cards.”

UFC Fight Night 105 takes place at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The card, headlined by heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Travis Browne, airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Grisham, who often reported on MMA for ESPN, also worked as a WWE commentator and did play-by-play and in-ring interviews for GLORY. His first official octagon commitment was at UFC Fight Night 103 in Phoenix, where he joined the commentary desk.

Moving forward, Grisham says his ultimate goal in his new role within the UFC’s on-air team is to add emotional depth and explore the human interest aspect of the sport.

“To me, what I always try to do is to paint a picture where you care about these guys,” Grisham said. “(Where) you care if Derrick Lewis wins or loses. It’s not just two random guys fighting in a K-Mart parking lot, you know. Who cares? But if you give me a reason to be emotionally invested in fighter A and in fighter B, and care about who wins, then I feel like I’ve done my job.

“The questions I usually ask these guys, pertaining to that, is ‘What’s your mentality going in there, who are you fighting for?’ Some guys are fighting for money literally to feed their families. So you see that desperation when they fight. Other guys are fighting for their careers.That’s what I try and find out from those guys.”

While he did offer his insight on some of UFC Fight Night 105’s most important bouts, the story-driven Grisham says he will be happy to leave the more technical analysis to some of his peers.

“Brian Stann and Dominick Cruz, they want to get into the nitty-gritty of strategies and counter attacks and that sort of stuff,” Grisham said. “I’m more the, ‘How can we make this guy is more likable, make you care about him more, make him be a star?’

“Because if Derrick Lewis goes in there and knocks Travis Browne out in the first round, he’s going to be a star, and it’s my job to not screw that up.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 105, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.