UFC declines to renew contract of longtime commentator Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith’s UFC tenure is coming to an end.

The longtime commentator announced today on Twitter that the promotion declined to renew his contract, making him a free agent just one year after signing with the industry-leader.

Now that the New Year has arrived I’m afraid I have to announce that the UFC has declined to re-sign me and my time with the promotion has come to an end. I just want to thank everyone at the promotion who made me feel welcome and appreciate at every single show.

— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) January 1, 2019

Smith thanked UFC staff and fighters as well as those who watched his work.

“I tried my utmost to show the fighters the respect they deserved for giving their lives to this sport and hope they felt that when they heard what I had to say,” he wrote. “The UFC fans were truly amazing and I wish I could thank each and every one of you for your support and even your criticism because it made me strive to be better.”

Reached for comment by MMAjunkie, Smith said he doesn’t have any immediate plans for his future, but hopes to get back to work soon as a commentator. He added his UFC departure came amid a shift in strategy to hire only UFC fighters as commentators.

Smith’s UFC on FOX colleagues, including Karyn Bryant and Megan Olivi, have both said they will continue to work with the UFC as it begins a new long-term broadcast partnership with ESPN. Bryant recently told MMAjunkie Radio she is still ironing out details of her role.

A former pro MMA fighter, Smith was the longtime analyst voice of the Viacom-owned Bellator, where he called all of the biggest fights and won praise for his educated fight calls. After he failed to come to terms on a new contract, he was snapped up after only two weeks of free agency.

On Smith’s signing, longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan bluntly declared, “You (expletive) up, Bellator. I’ve been telling everybody Jimmy Smith’s the best out there, and you let him go. That’s a huge error on their part. I would be thrilled if somehow or another they were able to work it out where Jimmy Smith was at the UFC.”

In his year calling octagon fights, Smith served as a commentator for several UFC fight cards, including the high-profile UFC 223 pay-per-view event in April. But he was a more regular presence at the commentary desk, where he served as an analyst for FOX on the UFC’s pre- and post-fight shows.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

 

from MMAjunkie http://bit.ly/2EYbH7v