Bruce Connal, who spent 20 years producing UFC broadcasts, remembered by MMA, sports world
- from MMA Junkie on Mar 05, 2018
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Most MMA fans had never heard the name Bruce Connal prior to Saturday night, but his impact on the UFC was undeniable.
Connal, 61, died suddenly this past Thursday, leaving behind his wife Karen and children Tyler, Carly and Trevor. He also left behind a team of on-air talent and behind-the-scenes production staff who were used to his direction since he first began producing the UFC’s broadcasts back in 1998 at UFC 17 – a run that included more than 300 live events.
Connal’s impact extended beyond the UFC. A former producer for ESPN, as well, Connal oversaw a number of live sporting broadcasts, including baseball, basketball, football and hockey.
The UFC honored Connal at the start of Saturday’s UFC 222 pay-per-view broadcast, with a tape of his voice counting the team to air. Longtime broadcaster Joe Rogan was overcome with emotion during the opening segment, pointing to the impact Connal had in his position.
In covering the UFC, I met Bruce on several occasions, and we rarely, if ever, talked about the sport. Instead, it was usually about family, upcoming travel plans and comparing the best frequent flyer programs. Most recently, we had a glass or two of wine together at the airport lounge in Los Angeles, as we sat through a layover en route to Australia.
Bruce was friendly and warm, but he was also incredibly dedicated to his craft. Even as we chatted, he was reviewing notes on his computer for that week’s broadcast – and mapping out the many events that were on the horizon, as well.
Bruce’s impact on those around him – both personally and professionally – was evident in the outpouring of support that came from both inside and out of the MMA bubble once news of his tragic passing began to spread.
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The Blue Corner is MMAjunkie‘s official blog and is edited by Mike Bohn.
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