UFC has officially entered its historic seven-year, $7.7 billion partnership with Paramount and CBS, and the promotion is ready to kick things off with its first numbered event. On January 24, UFC 324, headlined by Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett at the T-Mobile Arena, is already shaping up as a spectacle with a loaded card. But it will not just be the fights stealing the spotlight. The broadcast table has kept the hype alive after the addition of veteran sports broadcaster Kate Scott to its team. However, fans are not exactly thrilled about the move.

The promotion has announced its broadcast lineup for the first card under Paramount+, and most of the major figures remain the same. Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier, and Jon Anik will handle commentary duties, while Bruce Buffer’s iconic voice returns to introduce the fighters. And in a new addition, CBS Sports host Kate Scott will make her debut under Dana White’s banner, though not on the commentary desk.

According to the report by CBS, Kate Scott will join former champions Michael Bisping, Dominick Cruz, and Chris Weidman on the analysis desk for the UFC 324 marquee event, bringing a fresh presence to the promotion’s new broadcast era.

For the unversed, the 44-year-old British presenter brings a wide range of experience from working with major networks like FOX, CNN, and Sky Sports, before joining CBS. With her sharp microphone skills, Scott became widely recognized for hosting the UEFA Champions League and football’s most prestigious award show, the Ballon d’Or, on multiple occasions.

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Moreover, it is not like the CBS presenter is completely alien to combat sports. During her time with FOX, Scott also hosted “Inside PBC Boxing,” which only adds to her growing list of accolades. She was also part of a viral moment with Khabib Nurmagomedov after the former lightweight did not shake her hand at the UCL finals.

The UFC likely took note of that experience before bringing Scott in as part of the Paramount+ broadcast analysis desk. Still, fans are not fully buying into her credentials as an MMA expert, pointing to her background as a soccer analyst stepping into a completely different sport.

Fans react to Kate Scott joining the UFC 324 broadcast team

After the announcement, one fan chimed in and wrote, “I mean she’s cool but what does she know about mma is the real question.” It is natural for fans to feel a little skeptical about Scott’s inclusion on the UFC 324 broadcast team. A soccer presenter making such a sudden shift into MMA, a completely different sport, can raise questions about how well she can deliver technical analysis.

Following that reaction, another fan raised a similar concern, writing, “Can she tell a jab from an uppercut? If so welcome aboard, but if not, let her sit through a few months of fights to learn.” As mentioned earlier, the British presenter previously hosted a boxing show during her time with FOX. In that sense, Scott should at least be comfortable with boxing fundamentals. Still, despite that experience, the skepticism remains.

Another user commented, “MMA is different. You have to genuinely know the sport to talk about it.” Once again, the idea that Scott might lack martial arts knowledge seems rooted in the fact that she spent most of her career covering soccer. Echoing that thought, another fan wrote, “UFC is an American organization, we don’t need some soccer foid.”

Amid the criticism, one fan took a more humorous route and joked about current UFC host Megan Olivi’s reaction to Scott’s inclusion, writing, “Word on the street is @MeganOlivi is very pissed off!!!.” It was clearly meant in good fun, but at UFC 324, Olivi will continue working as a roaming reporter, so she is firmly locked into her role.

Now, as Kate Scott faces questions about being a misfit for the first Paramount+ card, a more optimistic fan offered support, writing, “Massive add – she’s an incredible host and always brings a wealth of knowledge and background to the topics she covers.” So, there is genuine backing coming her way as well.

With all the ongoing skepticism, the CBS presenter will definitely feel some pressure on January 24. Only time will tell whether she handles it well and delivers a strong analysis. That said, what do you think about Kate Scott’s addition to the team? Let us know in the comments section below.