Gus Johnson to call play-by-play during EliteXC: Primetime on CBS
May 19, 2008 by Sam Caplan
Officials from CBS and EliteXC held a press conference and autograph signing in Studio City, Calif. earlier this afternoon in anticipation of the first mixed martial arts event to be broadcast on live primetime television on Saturday, May 31.
FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned from those attending the press conference that Gus Johnson has been announced as the lead play-by-play announcer for the historic event.
Johnson is an existing member of CBS Sports’ announce team and joined the network in 1995. He is best known for his current roles as an announcer for both the network’s NFL and NCAA basketball telecasts. Johnson was also a part of CBS’ coverage of the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Johnson will be joined on the announce team by SHOWTIME play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo and former UFC middleweight champion Frank Shamrock.
I like this choice. Gus has always gotten me extremely pumped up during his calls of the NCAA basketball tournament.
Does the guy have any knowledge of or enthusiasm for MMA? He needs to school up and act excited to help this succeed. A disinterested and/or uninformed commentator would be a big letdown.
My understanding is that Johnson is pretty excited about getting an opportunity to call MMA and has wanted the chance for quite some time.
I actually think Frank’s announcing skills are overlooked and that he will be a big factor in bringing the fights to life for the casual fan. Plus, he’s likely to say some crazy shit, so it will add some flavor.
With Mauro and Frank there by his side….he should do fine.
This is the single most awesome thing that could have happened to this event.
I love listening to Gus completely lose it during close games during March Madness. Having him call a stunning KO or a slick sub is going to be great.
great job gary shaw!
this is a dream team
frank shamrock will be perfect for the casual fans
hes a great commentator and having a fighter in the booth is a must for an mma event! PERIOD!
gus is the man!
I am sure the masses will love over the top Mauro Ranallo …….
“Does the guy have any knowledge of or enthusiasm for MMA? He needs to school up and act excited to help this succeed. A disinterested and/or uninformed commentator would be a big letdown.”
You’ve obviously never watched an NCAA basketball game with him announcing if you are even remotely worried about Gus Johnson not bringing excitement. His MMA knowledge? Don’t know about that, but he WILL bring excitement.
Wow, I am really pumped now.
Mauro has be at a “11″ excitement level lately…if he tones it back to say oh a 7 the team should be fine
Apparently the guy trains in some kind of martial art:
“The telecast will be anchored by CBS veteran play-by-play man Gus Johnson, a practicing martial artist and mainstay for the network’s college basketball, NBA and NFL games.”
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-People-Frank-Shamrock.html
Joe Rogan vs Gus Johnson???
if they couldnt get the announcer from NBA JAM, i guess this will have to do
as long as it’s not goldberg, i’m happy.
He reminds me of that D-Bag Stephen A Smith…all he does is scream at you. Must be a regional thing.
I’m a Gus Johnson fan, so really good choice - known name, lots of enthusiasm. But what will Mauro do? He’s used to being the p-b-p guy. Could get very crowded in the booth.
PROOF OF GOD!
Why is it not just Mauro Ranallo? Gus Johnson may be excited to call the action, but I don’t think he has the experience for it. This is an example of why UFC did not want to give up control of the broadcast. They understand how to promote MMA. Also, Frank Shamrock is definitly a big plus for CBS. If Goldberg was in the booth, the broadcast team would definitly fall apart.
Great move!
What mma needs in the booth and in the media, is younger, more enthusiastic people.
99.9% (+/- 90, lol) of older announcers, reporters, editors and even execs, just don’t get it. They were raised on boxing, and don’t understand the ins and outs of mma, the training required, and the chess match that it is. To them, anything more than “you hit me, then I hit you” is brutal. Kicks, chokes and subs are equivalent to hair pulling and eye gouging in their estimation.
MMA needs the next generation to represent them in mainstream media and having a guy who is familiar to mainstream sports fans, as the announcer, is a great move by EXC/CBS.
I’m sure some of the broadcast will be a tutorial for those unfamiliar with the sport and I hope they do it professionally and limit the amount of “Street fighting” nonsense.
[...] today’s news that Mauro has been (finally!) tabbed to call the 5/31 Elite XC on CBS card along…, is probably the best thing I have heard all [...]
Apparently, Gus trains in some form of martial art:
“The telecast will be anchored by CBS veteran play-by-play man Gus Johnson, a practicing martial artist and mainstay for the network’s college basketball, NBA and NFL games.”
Gus Johnson trains BJJ at Renzo Gracie’s.
BJJ Battle of the Commentators: Gus Johnson vs Joe Rogan???
#9
Yeah, I’ve watched a bb games. My question was whether Gus has enthusiasm for MMA. A love for any other sport doesn’t mean you’re a fan of MMA. Take figure skating or golf. Please.
Mike, I repeat: Gus Johnson is a fan of MMA.
Gus has also called boxing matches before and has mentioned a number of times that he’d like to get involved with mma.
They sure did make him look like a cross dresser in that pic…lots of makeup…hah