Bellator chief Scott Coker: Mike Goldberg, new broadcast team offer 'different experience'

It’s nearly impossible to escape Mike Golberg’s voice if you’re watching a UFC promo. As the fight organization’s play-by-play commentator for 20 years, there’s hardly a big fight that doesn’t have his stamp.

Goldberg’s signature call – “It is all over!” – is indelibly linked to the industry-leader. So when he lends his commentary to Bellator’s second pay-per-view effort, Bellator NYC, it’s not a stretch to say some of the more casual fans of MMA might be confused.

But according to Bellator chief Scott Coker, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“We worked a deal out with Goldie because we felt that he was an amazing talent, and he has been the voice of MMA for a long time,” said Coker during a conference call today promoting the June 24 event at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Coker added, “But how he and Jimmy (Smith) and how he and Mauro (Ranallo) and Jenn Brown and Brendan Schaub – how they all interact – it’s going to have a different experience than I think what you’re used to.”

Since taking the reigns of Bellator in 2014, Coker repeatedly has tried to avoid comparisons with the UFC while seeking to create a separate identity for the Viacom-owned promotion even as it scoops up talent from the industry-leader and highlights former stars in “tentpole” fights. Today’s announcement of Golberg’s hiring makes that job much harder.

But the Coker sees things, the new team adds a new level of prestige, one that will help package a successful venture into the PPV market long dominated by the UFC.

“We’re very happy to have him on board,” Coker said of Goldberg. “I think it’s the best announcing team in MMA right now.”

So far, the exact shape of that broadcast team hasn’t been determined. Coker was short on details about the exact roles to be played by Goldberg and Ranallo, who are both known as play-by-play announcers. Veteran MMA reporter Josh Gross tweeted Goldberg will serve as a play-by-play announcer while Ranallo – a veteran of PRIDE, EliteXC and Strikeforce, in addition to his work in boxing and WWE events – will be on desk duty to commentate between fights:

But Coker said Spike executive Scott Fishman will dole out specific assignments in the coming weeks.

Moving forward, Coker said, Goldberg and Ranallo will serve on all Bellator fights in 2017 and 2018, with veteran color commentator Jimmy Smith, Bellator NYC headliner Chael Sonnen, Brown and Schaub rotating in based on availability.

“I don’t have all the details, because this just went down in the last couple weeks,” he said. “But I do know that for this fight, everybody will be there. He’s making some calls on who’s going to do what, but it hasn’t trickled down to me yet.”

Six months after he was unceremoniously shown the door by the industry leader, Goldberg said he’s excited to get back to work.

“Can’t tell you how excited I am to join the Bellator family! I’m so energized by you great fans! #bellatornyc,” he wrote (via Instagram):

Can't tell you how excited I am to join the Bellator family! I'm so energized by you great fans! #bellatornyc #bellatornation

A post shared by Mike Goldberg (@goldieontv) on Jun 13, 2017 at 1:27pm PDT

And if it seems like Coker is hoping some of the UFC’s success will trickle down to Bellator by hiring the former voice of its chief competitor, that can’t be helped.

For more more on Bellator NYC and Bellator 180, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.