Current MMA fighters as great analysts on television broadcasts of fight cards is a constant topic of discussion as MMA promotions look to bolster their field of analysts for events. In most sports, current athletes hardly, if at all, make the jump while still actively playing.
During the shortened 2020 XFL season, Greg Olsen, then a tight end for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, delivered color commentary on game telecasts on FOX Sports and FS1 as the XFL season took place in the NFL’s offseason. Olsen is currently the No. 2 analyst on NFL game telecasts for FOX Sports.
In MMA, the move to make active fighters broadcast analysts is a natural one since the schedule is much more forgiving. Fighters only compete a few times per year, so as long as they’re not busy training for an upcoming bout, their schedule is wide open for them to lend some expertise on fight nights.
Embed from Getty ImagesSome current fighters who serve as TV analysts are lucky enough to parlay their occasional analyst gig into one with more permanence after they retire from fighting. Today, we’ll be taking a look at some current MMA fighters as great analysts on television broadcasts.
Current MMA Fighters as Great Analysts: Israel Adesanya
First up in our look at current MMA fighters as great analysts, we go to the UFC’s middleweight division. It’s at 185 lbs where we’ll find the current No. 6 contender, Israel Adesanya. He’s had a quiet year in 2025, making his one and only appearance on Feb. 1, losing to Nassourdine Imavov inside the second round during UFC Riyadh. The once betting favorite among bettors at sites like luckyvibe-online.com is no longer a serious name tossed around the top ranks.
When he’s not fighting, Israel Adesanya operates his own YouTube channel, on which he often interviews other current fighters and breaks down upcoming fights. At press time, Adesanya’s YouTube channel currently boasts north of 1.3 million subscribers.
Adesanya’s expert analysis of the fights would make him a prime candidate for one of the current MMA fighters as great analysts on television.
Current MMA Fighters as Great Analysts: Kayla Harrison
Who else would be a brilliant candidate among current MMA fighters as great analysts on television? One need look no further than Kayla Harrison. How couldn’t Kayla Harrison be a prime candidate?
She’s a former Olympian in Judo and she parlayed her career as a judoka into a stint in the SmartCage beginning in 2018. After a series of showcase fights took place in 2018, she made waves as part of the PFL’s active roster at women’s lightweight in 2019, where Harrison won two consecutive championships at 155.
After the PFL’s 2020 season was canceled entirely due to COVID-19 related safeguards, she made a one-night only appearance in November of 2020 under the Invicta FC promotional banner. That night, she finished Courtney King by TKO inside the second round. A planned Titan FC fight vs. Jozette Cotton was scrubbed after the latter was hospitalized.
Upon joining the UFC’s active roster in early 2024, Kayla Harrison, who moved down to bantamweight, won her first three bouts in the promotion to go 19-1 in MMA. She currently holds the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship and is scheduled to defend it on Jan. 24 in UFC 324‘s co-headlining attraction.
Regardless of promotion, Kayla Harrison is a bona fide contender among current MMA fighters as great analysts on a broadcast.
Current MMA Fighters as Great Analysts: Paddy Pimblett
For our final entry on the list of current MMA fighters as great analysts on television, let’s go to the United Kingdom and talk about a particular Scouser. Paddy Pimblett has quickly risen through the ranks inside the lightweight division.
He’s 25 fights into his professional MMA career going into 2026. At 7-0 under the UFC promotional banner, this Cage Warriors alumnus currently sits at No. 5 in the rankings at 155.
On Jan. 24 inside T-Mobile Arena in Enterprise, NV, Pimblett will be ringing in the new year while bidding for the UFC Interim Lightweight Championship in the UFC 324 main event. No. 4 contender and former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje will serve as his opposition that winter’s evening.
Imagine Paddy “The Baddy” with a headset on in an arena once his combat sports career comes to an end. Much like Israel Adesanya, Pimblett also has a YouTube channel of his own. On the morning after UFC 322 in New York City, Pimblett taped himself reacting to fights on the card, even taking time out during the reactions to hold his daughter.
No matter what happens as it relates to the UFC Lightweight Championship picture, Paddy Pimblett could very well have a bright future as a broadcaster. He, too, is among the list of current MMA fighters as great analysts on television should he elect to go that route.
Final Thoughts
What do you think? Are there any candidates that we might have missed? If so, let us know in the comments section.
