Scott Coker elaborates on Mike Goldberg's Bellator departure: 'It was a production decision'
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Mike Goldberg won’t be a part of Bellator broadcasts now that the promotion has kick-started its tenure on Showtime.
Bellator president Scott Coker said there are no hard feelings. Following the conclusion of Bellator 255 this past Friday, the promotion’s first event since Goldberg’s departure, Coker revealed the move was strictly a business decision. He also praised Mauro Ranallo, who will carry the load in Goldberg’s absence.
“Listen, Mike is – one, he’s a friend,” Coker said. “He’s been a voice of MMA for such a long time, along with Mauro. I mean, Mauro, he’s been around (since during) PRIDE with Bas Rutten. This is way back (in) ’97, ’98, ’99.
“At one time, we had the two best on the planet. It was a production decision and they decided to move forward. That’s where we stand. But you know what? This is the kind of business that, you never know. If there’s boxing on one side and Mauro is doing it, who knows what will happen in the future? But that’s the way it rolled out.”
Goldberg called his first event for the promotion at Bellator 180 in Madison Square Garden on June 24, 2017. He’d served as the main play-by-play commentator for Bellator, often joined by color commentators “Big” John McCarthy and Josh Thomson.
Prior to his stint with Bellator, Goldberg worked as one of the voices of the UFC from December 1997 to December 2016, often alongside broadcast partner Joe Rogan.
Bellator 255 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on Showtime. The entire event streamed on MMA Junkie.
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