Richard Deitsch of SI.com broke some news earlier today that many MMA fans will undoubtedly be pleased to hear. Veteran announcer Gus Johnson, who has covered Strikeforce events on Showtime and CBS as well as EliteXC events in the past, will no longer be working with CBS Sports after 16 years of employment. Here's the info:
SI.com has learned that CBS Sports recently parted ways with Gus Johnson, a play-by-play mainstay on its college basketball coverage for 16 years, after the two sides could not agree on a new deal. Johnson has also worked as a play-by-play voice for the network's NFL coverage since 1998.
Johnson has earned praise and a large following for his announcing skills when covering college basketball and NFL football, but combat sports fans haven't been as impressed with his coverage of MMA and boxing. Johnson will still announce Saturday's Manny Pacquaio vs. Shane Mosley fight on Showtime PPV, but it is currently unknown whether he will continue to cover Showtime events after this. It seems unlikely. He was a candidate for the NFL Network's Thursday night broadcast team, but lost out on the job. SI reports that he is talking to Fox Sports about a possible position covering college football.
Johnson is likely most famous (or infamous) to MMA fans for his over-the-top call of the Kimbo Slice vs. Seth Petruzelli fight, and his offhand statements during the brawl at Strikeforce: Nashville between Cesar Gracie's team and Jason "Mayhem" Millerhttp://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122597/jason-miller.
Johnson is likely most famous (or infamous) to MMA fans for his over-the-top call of the Kimbo Slice vs. Seth Petruzelli fight, and his offhand statements during the brawl at Strikeforce: Nashville between Cesar Gracie's team and Jason "Mayhem" Millerhttp://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122597/jason-miller.