MMA fans know Jimmy Smith as one of the longtime voices of Bellator MMA, working as that promotion’s cageside analyst until he parted ways at the end of 2017. The UFC didn’t take long to sign him up to be part of its commentary and studio rotation to begin 2018, but we won’t be hearing Smith on UFC shows in 2019.
ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported news of Smith’s impending departure three weeks ago, and now that 2019 has arrived, Smith has confirmed the news himself on Twitter.
“Now that the New Year has arrived I’m afraid I have to announce that the UFC has declined to re-sign me and my time with the promotion has come to an end,” Smith said.