Play-by-Play Announcer

What is a play-by-play announcer?

In MMA, the play-by-play announcer is the lead voice on a fight broadcast. Working from cageside, this person describes what happens inside the cage in real time: who just landed a punch, and whether a takedown attempt is about to change the round. The goal is to keep viewers oriented, whether they are watching with the sound on or listening without a clear view of the screen.

The role sits at the center of the broadcast team. A play-by-play announcer is paired with one or more color commentators, usually former fighters or analysts who explain the strategy behind the action. Fans often use “commentator” as a catch-all for everyone talking during a fight, but the play-by-play announcer has a specific job: narrate the action accurately and at pace. Jon Anik, the UFC’s lead play-by-play voice, has held that seat on pay-per-views since 2017, according to UFC.com.

What a play-by-play announcer does during a fight

The work is built around real-time narration. As a round plays out, the announcer identifies fighters by name and calls the striking and grappling exchanges while tracking the round and the clock. Radio and audio-only broadcasts raise the stakes, because the announcer becomes the audience’s only view of the fight, a point the sports-education platform Fiveable makes about the role across sports.

Delivery matters as much as accuracy. Play-by-play calls are direct and present-tense, paced to match the speed of the fight and quick enough to keep up when a scramble breaks out on the mat. Between bursts of action, the announcer hands off to the color commentator for analysis, then picks the thread back up when the next exchange starts. None of this teaches anyone how to fight. The announcer’s job is to make the fight legible to someone watching, not to coach technique.

Play-by-play announcer vs color commentator

The two roles are easy to confuse because they share the broadcast, but they do different jobs. The play-by-play announcer describes what is happening. The color commentator explains why it matters, adding analysis and the strategy behind each moment, which is how the Journalism Education Association describes the split.

Play-by-play announcer	Color commentator
Describes the live action as it happens	Explains strategy, technique, and context
Leads the broadcast and sets the pace	Adds analysis between exchanges
Usually a professional broadcaster	Often a former fighter or coach
Example: Jon Anik	Examples: Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier

In the UFC, Anik runs play-by-play while Joe Rogan and former two-division champion Daniel Cormier handle color commentary, per Yahoo Sports coverage of the UFC 324 broadcast team.

Play-by-play announcer vs Octagon announcer

Here is where MMA differs from most sports. The person who booms out fighter introductions before each bout is not the play-by-play announcer. That is the Octagon announcer, and in the UFC it is Bruce Buffer, known for his “It’s time!” call before main events, according to his Wikipedia entry.

Play-by-play announcer	Octagon announcer
Calls the fight throughout each round	Introduces fighters and reads official results
Talks continuously during the action	Speaks before and after bouts, not during
Works at cageside with the commentary team	Stands inside the cage
Example: Jon Anik	Example: Bruce Buffer

Buffer has handled UFC introductions since 1996 and works from inside the cage, while the play-by-play announcer stays at cageside and talks through the fight itself. Both are “announcers,” which is why newer fans mix them up.

Why MMA uses a three-person booth

Most sports pair a single play-by-play announcer with one color commentator. MMA broadcasts often add a second analyst, putting three voices on the call. The UFC’s pay-per-view booth typically has Anik alongside two color commentators, a structure the promotion has used for years, per Yahoo Sports.

Anik has described the difference as a timing problem. In a two-person booth, silence falls on him whenever his partner stops talking. In a three-person booth, a second analyst can step in, so he can hold back and let the conversation breathe, he told UFC.com. The extra seat gives a fight broadcast more room for immediate reaction from people who have competed at the highest level.

Notable MMA play-by-play announcers

A handful of voices have defined the role in MMA. Jon Anik took over as the UFC’s lead pay-per-view play-by-play announcer in 2017 and re-signed with the promotion on a multi-year deal in 2022, per Sportskeeda. Before him, Mike Goldberg called UFC events from 1997 to 2016, then moved to Bellator, according to his Wikipedia entry.

Others work across promotions and regions. John Gooden has called UFC events since 2014, often handling international and Road to UFC cards, per Yahoo Sports. Brendan Fitzgerald anchors many UFC Fight Nights. In ONE Championship, Ray Flores took over play-by-play duties in 2023, as Sports Illustrated reported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the UFC’s play-by-play announcer?

Jon Anik is the UFC’s lead play-by-play announcer for pay-per-view events, a role he has held since 2017. John Gooden and Brendan Fitzgerald also call UFC cards.

Is a play-by-play announcer the same as a commentator?

Not exactly. “Commentator” loosely covers everyone on the call, but the play-by-play announcer is the specific person who narrates the action, separate from the color commentator who provides analysis.

What is the difference between a play-by-play announcer and Bruce Buffer?

Buffer is the Octagon announcer. He introduces fighters and reads results from inside the cage, while the play-by-play announcer describes the fight from cageside throughout each round.

Do play-by-play announcers need to know MMA?

Yes. The role depends on recognizing fighters and techniques quickly enough to describe them accurately as they happen.

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Sources

1. UFC.com. “Jon Anik | The Interview.” Accessed August 2026.
   https://www.ufc.com/news/jon-anik-the-interview-ufc-commentator-play-by-play-pay-per-view
2. Yahoo Sports. “Who Are the Commentators for UFC 324?” Accessed August 2026.
   https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/commentators-ufc-324-know-broadcast-004735371.html
3. Yahoo Sports. “UFC White House announcers: Meet Paramount+’s broadcast team for the Freedom 250 card.” Accessed August 2026.
   https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ufc-white-house-announcers-meet-134542381.html
4. Journalism Education Association. “What is the difference between a color commentator and a play-by-play announcer?” Accessed August 2026.
   https://jea.org/digital-media/whats-the-difference-between-a-color-commentator-and-a-play-by-play-announcer/
5. Fiveable. “Play-by-play announcer.” Accessed August 2026.
   https://fiveable.me/sports-reporting-and-production/key-terms/play-by-play-announcer
6. Wikipedia. “Bruce Buffer.” Accessed August 2026.
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Buffer
7. Wikipedia. “Mike Goldberg.” Accessed August 2026.
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Goldberg
8. Sportskeeda. “Jon Anik re-signs as lead play-by-play commentator with the UFC.” Accessed August 2026.
   https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-jon-anik-re-signs-lead-play-by-play-commentator-ufc
9. Sports Illustrated. “Ray Flores is New Voice of ONE Championship.” Accessed August 2026.
   https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/mma/ray-flores-is-the-new-voice-of-one-championship

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