Bruce Buffer
At a glance
- With the UFC since UFC 8 in 1996
- Full-time Octagon announcer since UFC 13
- Inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2024
Overview
Bruce Buffer was born on May 21, 1957, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He started martial arts at 13 in Philadelphia with judo, then took up Tang Soo Do in Malibu, where he earned a second-degree black belt. He later competed in kickboxing until he was 32. A 1997 appearance on the sitcom Friends helped him lock in the full-time job at the UFC.
He announced a preliminary fight at UFC 8 in 1996, then every fight at UFC 10. He became the full-time Octagon announcer starting with UFC 13. He is the half-brother of boxing announcer Michael Buffer, and he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
What you'll find
At every major UFC event, he introduces the fighters in the Octagon and reads the decisions. His call of "It's time!" opens main events. The Buffer 180 is his signature spin as he points to the corner of the fighter he is introducing, and he pulled off a Buffer 360 at UFC 100.
He also hosts the It's Time podcast, available on Apple Podcasts. Outside the UFC, he has announced boxing on HBO and ADCC submission grappling events, and voiced video games. He has appeared in the movies Here Comes the Boom and Hot Tub Time Machine 2 and on the TV series Entourage. He is also a high-level poker player who finished second on Poker After Dark.
Why follow
Bruce Buffer has been part of UFC history for nearly thirty years. He has introduced most of the promotion's champions, and his calls are tied to the biggest moments in the Octagon. In June 2026 he was on the mic for UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.
His angle is entertainment. His role is presentation: he sets the atmosphere before the first strike and delivers the verdict at the end. On a UFC card, he is the link between the arena crowd and the fighters, both at the introductions and when the scorecards are read. He also has the "Buffer Bow," which he saves as a special honor.
MMA Official's take
Bruce Buffer is a fit for fans who enjoy the show around the fights and UFC history told by someone who watched it from inside the cage.
Start with the It's Time podcast on Apple Podcasts to hear him away from the Octagon, outside his announcer role. Then watch his main event introductions, such as UFC 100, to see the Buffer 360. Finally, go back to UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026, where he introduced the fighters at the White House.