Jean-Paul Chartrand Jr.
At a glance
- The UFC's official French language play by play man since 2011
- Called the UFC on TVA Sports, then RDS, then TVA Sports again
- Covered four Olympic Games
Overview
Jean-Paul Chartrand Jr. was born in Montreal on April 23, 1954. He is the son of Jean-Paul “Steve” Chartrand (1931 to 2023). A longtime sports journalist, he covered four Olympic Games: Sarajevo, Calgary, Barcelona and Lillehammer.
In 2011, a few months after retiring from TVA, he became the UFC's official French language play by play announcer. Since then he has called the promotion's fights for audiences in Quebec, alongside analyst Patrick Côté, a former UFC fighter.
What you'll find
His job is play by play: he calls the action live, announces results and sets the pace of the broadcast, while Côté handles the technical analysis. You hear him on UFC events broadcast in French in Quebec.
He has moved with the UFC from one broadcaster to another. The promotion aired with him on TVA Sports from 2011 to 2014, then on RDS starting in January 2015. When the UFC's return to TVA Sports was announced in November 2023, he was confirmed as the promotion's voice alongside Côté.
Why follow
Chartrand has been tied to the UFC in French for more than a decade. For fans in Quebec, his voice is part of the big fight night experience, just like the walkouts or the reading of the scorecards. His long career as a sports journalist, Olympics included, gives him an ease on the mic that keeps the broadcast flowing.
His pairing with Côté runs on a clear split of roles: description and storytelling for him, technical breakdown for his partner. If you are new to the UFC, that setup helps you follow a fight without getting lost, even on a long card full of fighters you do not know yet. For an American viewer, it is also an interesting comparison with the English language booth on the same event.
MMA Official's take
This is for French speaking fans who want to experience the UFC live in French, with a well paced broadcast that is easy to follow. Start with a UFC event on TVA Sports to hear his booth with Patrick Côté. If you are curious about the history of sports media in Quebec, look up the career of his father, Jean-Paul “Steve” Chartrand.