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UFC’s military events have impact on broadcaster

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11:31 PM Sunday, January 23, 2011

Cincinnati native and 1986 Miami University graduate Mike Goldberg has seen it all during 14 years and more than 170 broadcasts as the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s play-by-play man.

But admittedly, few events have made an impact like “UFC Fights for the Troops 2” recently did.

This past Saturday, Goldberg and the UFC headed to Fort Hood in Texas. The Spike TV event served as a fundraiser for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and research into traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to U.S. soldiers. The 11-bout event was open specifically to uniformed military personnel stationed at the base, and UFC officials created a makeshift arena from an open airplane hanger.

“At Fort Hood, we gave them three hours away from what they do,” Goldberg said. “They could just relax and be fans and watch the fights. To have our fighters on their base and there with them, you can see how much it means to them.”

The UFC’s first “Fight for the Troops” event took place in 2008 with Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Through the UFC’s and fans’ contributions, more than $5 million was raised, which helped the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund complete its state-of-the-art National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Maryland.

The most recent reincarnation, which will fund TBI research initiatives, provided a fight card high on entertainment value — Melvin Guillard (27-8-2) scored a dramatic first-round knockout of fellow lightweight contender Evan Dunham (11-2) in the headliner. But Goldberg said the real impact came earlier in this week.

“After visiting with some of the guys and ... witnessing their struggle with TBI, well, it was by far the most exhausting event I personally think we do in the UFC,” he said. “It’s just a roller coaster of high and lows. It’s very emotional.

“You leave there a different person.”

Goldberg isn’t the only UFC rep involved with the military. Former champ and West Chester Twp. resident Rich Franklin is a spokesperson for the Disabled American Veterans organization. According to Goldberg, the MMA-military relationship truly is an organic one.

“Our sport has some of the best athletes in the world,” he said. “But what the armed forces soldiers do every day is battle for our safety. They’re in real-life battles. It puts sports back in perspective for us.

“But I think (this relationship) is unique to MMA and unique to fighting. One is fighting in the cage and one in live battles, but they’re both fighters. That’s where the kinship and understanding come from.”

To donate or learn more about the efforts, visit www.fightforthetroops.com.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, voted best media outlet in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 World MMA Awards. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to www.MMAjunkie.com.

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