John Gooden
At a glance
- UFC presenter and commentator since 2014
- UFC radio commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live since 2019
- UFC Fight Pass producer and presenter since 2021
Overview
John Gooden is a British commentator and presenter. Since 2014 he has been a lead presenter and play-by-play commentator for UFC international events, working with ESPN, FOX Sports, and BT Sport. He has held nearly every role on a UFC broadcast: commentator, presenter, desk host, backstage reporter, and producer.
He started at the BBC from 2002 to 2004 as a runner and then junior researcher. Before media work, he was a qualified electrician. He is also an Ironman finisher. Since 2008 he has written for news outlets, magazines, and websites.
What you'll find
On UFC cards outside the U.S., he is often the play-by-play voice. Since 2019 he has called UFC events for BBC Radio 5 Live, and since 2021 he has produced and presented content for UFC Fight Pass, the UFC's streaming platform.
Before the UFC, he called and presented Cage Warriors Fighting Championship from 2010 to 2013 for Sky Sports, Setanta, and The Active Channel, and worked for several other MMA promotions between 2009 and 2014. He has also worked as a stadium announcer for the 2018 UEFA Under 17 Championship final and for a 2016 Women's Six Nations rugby match between England and Wales. In September 2017 he announced the Muay Thai and kickboxing championships at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan, and in 2016 he hosted and interviewed at ITV Sports' I Am Team GB event.
Why follow
Gooden has known the European scene since his Cage Warriors days, a promotion where many British and Irish fighters competed before reaching the UFC. He followed some of them long before they stepped into the Octagon.
His angle is information. He calls fights clearly and leaves the breakdown to his color commentators. Because he also works radio, he knows how to describe a fight for someone who cannot see it, with positions, strikes, and time remaining called without confusion.
MMA Official's take
John Gooden is a fit for fans who follow UFC events in Europe and around the world, and for anyone who listens to fights on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Start with a UFC Fight Night held in Europe with him on play-by-play. If you subscribe to UFC Fight Pass, move on to the content he presents there. For his news and upcoming assignments, follow him on X and Instagram. His personal website lists his background and past assignments.