Current MMA fighters being great analysts on televised fight cards is an ongoing topic of discussion as MMA promotions look to strengthen their field of event analysts. In most sports, current athletes rarely or rarely make the jump while they are still active.
During the shortened 2020 XFL season, Greg Olsen, then a tight end for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, provided color commentary on game broadcasts on FOX Sports and FS1 as the XFL season took place during the NFL’s offseason. Olsen is currently the No. 2 analyst on NFL game broadcasts for FOX Sports.
In MMA, the move to allow active fighters to broadcast analysts is a natural one, as the schedule is much more forgiving. Fighters only compete a few times a year, so as long as they aren’t busy training for an upcoming fight, their schedule is wide open to lend some expertise on fight nights.
Embed from Getty ImagesSome current fighters who serve as TV analysts are fortunate enough to provide the occasional analyst gig into one with more durability after they retire from battle. Today we will take a look at some current MMA fighters as great analysts on television broadcasts.
Current MMA fighters as major analysts: Israel Adesanya
If we first look at the current MMA fighters as great analysts, let’s look at the UFC’s middleweight division. It is at 185 pounds where we will find current No. 6 contender, Israel Adesanya. He has had a quiet year in 2025. He made his only appearance on February 1, losing in the second round to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Riyadh.
When he’s not fighting, Israel Adesanya is operating his own YouTube channel, to which he often job interviews other current fighters and breaks down upcoming fights. At the time of writing, Adesanya’s YouTube channel currently has over 1.3 million subscribers.
Adesanya’s expert analysis of the fights would make him a prime candidate for one of today’s MMA fighters as major television analysts.
Current MMA fighters as great analysts: Kayla Harrison
Who else would be a brilliant candidate among today’s MMA fighters as major television analysts? Look no further than Kayla Harrison. How couldn’t Kayla Harrison being a top candidate?
She is a former Olympian in judo and from 2018 she converted her career as a judoka into a stint in the SmartCage. After a series of showcase fights in 2018, she made waves as part of the PFL’s active lightweight women’s roster in 2019, where Harrison won back-to-back championships at 155.
After the PFL’s 2020 season was canceled entirely due to COVID-19 related safety measures, she appeared under the Invicta FC promotional banner for just one night in November 2020. That night she finished Courtney King via TKO in the second round. A planned Titan FC fight against Jozette Cotton was scrubbed after he was admitted to hospital.
When he joined the UFC’s active roster in early 2024, Kayla Harrison, who moved up to bantamweight, won her first three bouts in the promotion, going 19-1 in MMA. She currently holds the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship and will defend it on January 24 in the co-headlining attraction of UFC 324.
Regardless of the promotion, Kayla Harrison is a bona fide contender among current MMA fighters as great broadcast analysts.
Current MMA fighters as great analysts: Paddy Pimblett
For our final entry on the list of current MMA fighters as great television analysts, let’s head to the United Kingdom and talk about a certain Scouser. Paddy Pimblett has risen quickly in the lightweight division.
He has 25 fights in his professional MMA career through 2026. At 7-0 under the UFC promotional banner, this Cage Warriors alumnus currently sits at #5 in the rankings at 155.
On January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Enterprise, NV, Pimblett will ring in the new year as he makes a bid for the UFC Interim Lightweight Championship in the UFC 324 main event. Number 4 contender and former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje will serve as his opponent that winter evening.
Imagine Paddy “The Baddy” wearing headphones in an arena as his martial arts career comes to an end. Like Israel Adesanya, Pimblett also has his own YouTube channel. On the morning after UFC 322 in New York City, Pimblett recorded himself reacting to fights on the card, even taking time out during the reactions to hold his daughter.
Whatever happens when it comes to the UFC Lightweight Championship picture, Paddy Pimblett could very well have a bright future as a broadcaster. He also ranks among current MMA fighters as great television analysts, should he choose to go that route.
Final thoughts
What do you think? Are there any candidates we may have missed? If so, please let us know in the comments box.
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