The Fertitta brothers, Frank and Lorenzo, made their most successful business decision when they sold the majority shares in Zuffa, which owned the UFC, to WME-IMG in 2016. They walked away as billionaires with $4 billion in their hands, but the situation was totally devastating for some of the other people who worked for the promotion, as they had to bid farewell to their jobs while Dana White stayed as the boss.

During a recent conversation with Dodge Woodall, the originator of the “it is all over” catchphrase, former UFC commentator Mike Goldberg made some serious revelations about what went on after the WME-IMG deal. He claimed that when he left the company following that deal, more than a hundred other employees were laid off, but Goldberg claimed that he expected Dana White to keep him in the promotion as a part of the commentary team.

“[His relationship with Dana White ended] unexpectedly, I think, is one way I would put it. Unfortunately, my contract was up at the same time the sale happened,” said Mike Goldberg. “The first thing that was done is there were a lot of cuts. There were over 125 people let go.” The 60-year-old would also mention how hardly any can fathom the grievances of the former employees who worked behind the scenes and in departments that are essential for the UFC’s smooth functioning.

“I’m the one that gets talked about because I’m the one who had the job in which people saw the face,” Mike Goldberg added. “But I’m no more important than the director of merchandising, or social media manager. They all lost their jobs.”

Despite his exit from the promotion in a rather unceremonious nature, Mike Goldberg still remains one of the most iconic commentators not only in the UFC but in all of MMA. In an interview a couple of years ago, he opened up on what was it like interacting with Dana White after his departure from the promotion.

Mike Goldberg’s moment of closure with Dana White

A considerable period after Mike Goldberg last sat on the commentary desk in the UFC, he found himself bumping into Dana White while coaching his son’s hockey team. He saw him while staying at the Red Rock in Las Vegas as he saw White walking out of the hotel after Goldberg “froze” at first glance, but thanks to his son’s insistence, the former commentator decided to approach White, thank him and have that closure he never thought he needed.

“This was after my departure… We were staying at Red Rock, still using those Fertitta connections, of course. And I walk out and I see Dana in the valet area with a couple of buddies,” Mike Goldberg told ‘MMA Fighting’. “My son Cole looks at me, he goes, ‘Dad, that’s Dana.’ And honestly, I froze, I did not know what to do… my son, God bless him, he’s like, ‘Dad, go say hi.’ And I did and I shook his hand and I said, ‘Thank you for everything’… it was a great moment of, I guess, closure at a time.”

Well, it seems like that moment of embrace between Mike Goldberg and Dana White helped the former settle his nerves after his ‘unexpected’ departure from the UFC. However, the other unidentified employees didn’t get the same opportunity. What do you think of the whole story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.

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