UFC Replaces Brendan Fitzgerald on Vegas 124 Broadcast
Play-by-play commentator Brendan Fitzgerald was replaced during UFC Vegas 124 after an illness affected his voice.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
UFC replaced play-by-play commentator Brendan Fitzgerald during UFC Vegas 124 in Las Vegas due to illness. John Schriffen, Dana White's Contender Series commentator, stepped in and did not call the final bout of the card, which ended with a short-notice main event between Johnny Walker and Waldo Cortes-Acosta.
Why it matters
The mid-event swap left viewers without Fitzgerald's commentary for the closing bout of the Saturday night card. The change shows how quickly broadcast crews can be reshuffled when a key voice is unable to continue.
Schriffen has worked with the promotion since 2024 and was sitting behind the commentary team before stepping in. The main event between Johnny Walker and Waldo Cortes-Acosta was booked on short notice.
The players
Brendan Fitzgerald
Brendan Fitzgerald is a UFC play-by-play commentator whose illness forced him off the broadcast during UFC Vegas 124.
John Schriffen
John Schriffen is Dana White's Contender Series commentator who replaced Fitzgerald during the event.
Dana White
Dana White is the UFC president and the promoter who oversees the Contender Series, where Schriffen works.
The details
Fitzgerald was battling an illness that affected his voice until he could no longer continue calling the event. He posted a message on his Instagram story thanking the crew and compared his diminished role to the silent half of Penn & Teller.
Timeline
Saturday night: UFC Vegas 124 Fight Night card with Fitzgerald's replacement
2024: John Schriffen began working with the promotion
Season Trajectory
The swap draws on Dana White's Contender Series, the promotion's developmental pipeline, to fill a live broadcast role on short notice. It shows how the UFC's internal talent development supports its televised event production.
Fans following the UFC broadcast on Saturday night saw Schriffen call the closing bout instead of Fitzgerald. Viewers who follow the Contender Series may recognize the commentator from that developmental program.
The takeaway
Broadcast rosters can change mid-event, and the promotion's developmental program provides replacements ready to step in. Viewers can expect continuity in production even when a regular voice is unavailable.
Further reading
For more on the broadcast side of the sport, explore Mixed Martial Arts coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloody Elbow.
