If you are a fan of combat sports, there’s a decent chance you have heard of the name, and probably a larger chance you’ve heard the man himself. The self-proclaimed “Bi-polar Rock N’ Roller” has announced some of the biggest fights in combat sports, from the early Pride days, to Rousey’s war with Tate in Strikeforce, all the way to Showtime’s huge Mayweather vs. McGregor fight. These days it seems like Mauro can be heard even more places, from WWE’s NXT program, to even his own Showtime documentary, the latter looks at the personal struggles of Mauro Ranallo. After seeing his journey, we decided to put together a Top 5 list that looks at some moments in combat sports that Mauro made feel extra special through his story telling.
5. Pride Never Die
In combat sports or entertainment, the storytelling from the announcers can turn a great fight or moment into something truly historic. Usually, announcers are put into a two man (sometimes more) tandem to help enhance the experience for the viewer. One of the greatest tandems in MMA announcing, if not the greatest, is the duo of Mauro Ranallo and Bas Rutten.
Mauro and Bas were part of what made Pride special to watch. For those fans who aren’t too familiar with Pride, Pride was to the UFC what NJPW is to WWE. That is saying for a large majority of hardcore fans, Pride was offering the more entertaining product, and part of what made it so entertaining was the incredible commentary provided by Bas and Mauro. Whether it was the war from Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop, or the battles between Rampage Jackson and Wanderlei Silva, Mauro and Bas managed to help make these fights all the more iconic in the sport of mixed martial arts. If you haven’t watched Pride, it’s worth the monthly UFC Fight Pass subscription alone.
4. The Rise of Rousey
When Ronda Rousey was first signed to UFC, it was monumental to the entire sport because women would finally get their equal time to shine in the sports premier promotion. However, it was Rousey’s time in Strikeforce that truly elevated her into the superstar we saw as fans. Like many greats in combat sports/entertainment, Rousey had a prominent voice behind the announce desk, none other than Mauro himself.
Watching any of Rousey’s previous fights under the Strikeforce banner alone with the benefit of hindsight, it’s easy to see how she became the superstar she is today. During the fights though, it felt as Mauro knew the levels she would reach far before she did. Mauro’s enthusiasm while calling the championship fights of Rousey/Tate and Rousey/Kaufman will forever be etched in the memories of fans lucky enough to watch those fights live.
3. The Money Fight
Mayweather vs. McGregor is arguably one of the biggest fights in combat sports history, even if it didn’t quite live up to the hype in some fans eyes. The fight itself made both men plenty of money, so there’s probably no complaints from them. In the lead up to the fight it was announced that Mauro Ranallo would once again be a play-by-play commentator on another of Floyd Mayweather’s iconic boxing fights. There is no one on the planet more qualified to call huge fights and Mauro was the icing on top of the cake.
From his interviews and analysis breakdowns before the event, to his calling of the fight itself, Mauro was in his prime that week. With the current speculation of both McGregor and Mayweather running back a rematch, one can only hope that Mauro would be there to call the fight if it were to happen. If nothing else, it would be something iconic if Mauro were to call one of McGregor’s future bouts in the UFC alongside Joe Rogan, just for a once in a lifetime treat to the fans.
2. The Voice of NXT
If you aren’t too familiar with WWE’s NXT program, the best way to describe it is that at NXT’s core it is wrestling and story telling the way it should be. A far cry from the silliness that appears on Raw and Smackdown, NXT has found success by using “Indy darlings” to create a product that appeals to wrestling fans who may have become jaded with the current product. Some say that NXT is WWE’s answer to popular alternative promotions such as Ring of Honor or New Japan Pro Wrestling, and they would certainly be right in saying that. As far as the in-ring talent goes, there are arguments to be made to which company has the better wrestlers, but when it comes to announcing, NXT is the leader and it isn’t even close.
If you need proof on how great Mauro can be, especially in the NXT atmosphere, check out NXT’s Takeover: New Orleans. Starting with the 6-man ladder match for the North American Championship to the unsanctioned match between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, Mauro made you care on such a deep level about the athletes involved. For as great as Mauro is within boxing and MMA, his role in NXT feels on another level entirely. His ability to add emotion to the matches helps give them a feel of legitimacy that other matches without Mauro commentating lack. Here is hoping Ranallo continues to call NXT home for a very long time
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1. The Bi-Polar Rock N’ Roller
In all the fights that Mauro Ranallo has called throughout his career, perhaps the latest fight he has become vocal about is the most important, not just for him but to many others as well. At the beginning of this list we mentioned Showtime’s new documentary that centers around the personal life of Mauro Ranallo, who if you didn’t know already, lives with Bi-polar Disorder (also known as Manic Depression).
The documentary, entitled Bi-Polar Rock N’ Roller, looks behind the scenes into the life of Mauro, and some of the personal demons he has overcome throughout his career. It is a truly gripping story of what life is like living with a mental illness and the stigma that can come along with it. Mauro’s tale isn’t that of tragedy but that of triumph, as he emphasizes how important it is to always keep fighting the good fight. For those who live with any type of mental disorder, this is a tale of inspiration that no matter how dark things may seem, that hope is never lost. The documentary is empowering Mauro and many other’s fight to end the stigma around mental illness, and to never give up on chasing your dreams.
To learn more about Mauro’s message, check out the documentary on Showtime or any of his recent interviews about the subject, specifically his interview with Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour. Also, feel free to follow him on Twitter and help him share the message of #CureStigma.
Have any ideas on what Top 5’s you’d like to see next from the world of MMA? Leave a comment below and don’t forget to check out the other great content on Kwinn POP!