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Trevor Wittman has become a staple of UFC’s ESPN broadcasts, with his in-fight analysis of corner coaching, but fully admits he finds it “tough” to be a critical voice.
One of the more recent upgrades to the UFC’s live event broadcasts has been the addition of in-fight analysis from long time veteran coach Trevor Wittman. Wittman has worked with and helped craft multiple world champions and title contenders in MMA, and lends a detailed eye to in-fight adjustments that fighters and their teams are looking to make—specifically focusing on between-rounds corner instruction.
His presence has been refreshingly down to earth, and free of much of the drama and posturing that can come with bringing in active fighters to fill color commentary spots (as the UFC tends to like to do). Nonetheless – and although it doesn’t sound like he’s about to step away from the role – in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Wittman admitted he’s found his new role with the UFC a bit difficult at times. Delivering criticism of other coaches and their game plans doesn’t always necessarily sit comfortably.
“Yeah, it’s hard. I love to be there live, watch the fights,” Wittman said, “but when it comes to critiquing? It’s tough. I’m the first to say, I have screwed up SO many damn times in the corner, and I’ve had great corners. So, for me to go out there and call things? I think one thing that would make it fun for me is, let me tell some stories. Let me tell some stories of the times I forgot mouthpieces and looked at the guy and said, ‘Oh man, we got a minute left, and I can’t jump up there.’ Especially in the boxing world, you get up on the canvas, fights get stopped.
“Man, I would love to tell those stories; how all the times I screwed up. Because it’s what made me learn from those situations. I think that would make it funner. But again, all the coaches out there, they’re my brothers—they’re the people I love sharing this industry with, they’re the people I love sharing the cage with. From a competitive aspect, I love that. For me to say what’s right, what’s wrong? It’s tough.”
On the flip side, however, Wittman also said his new position has gained him a lot of insight into how other coaches work. And exposed him to some new ideas and points of view he might never have other come across.
“That has been the best part,” Wittman exclaimed. “There’s so many times that I’ve been in there and been like, ‘Oh my god! That’s a great perspective.’ Then they go out and do it. That, to me, that kind of just kinda stamps, ‘Who am I to be saying something?’ Because I haven’t spent the time in the camp. I haven’t been with them for 12 weeks. I don’t know the gameplan. And when you see it and you hear it, that’s – to me – spectacular. So again, how am I going to critique when you listen to 30 seconds of it. It’s awesome. I love to see my friends in the industry out there doing their thing. To me, to sit live and watch it, that is the best part. On top of that, I love to talk to the fans.”
And while he may not quite fully enjoy delivering criticism to his fellow coaches, he wouldn’t at all mind finding himself on the opposite end of the equation. Having someone in the booth, looking over his corner work and giving feedback on it isn’t an experience he’d shy away from, at all.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t mind it, because I love it,” Wittman said. “I think criticism, especially from someone that’s coming from a place that they like you, I think you need to know different perspectives. Because perspectives are key to life. I can say I’m right, and you’re wrong. But that’s only from this perspective. If I step around, we’re on the complete opposite. So again, perspectives are just perspectives—and I don’t take anything to heart. But again, these are peoples’ careers. They got their families watching, things like that. I don’t take much things to heart. I hope they don’t. I’m just here to go out there and help the industry—but man, I love all the coaches out there.”
Perhaps he’ll get a chance to experience exactly that, coming up on September 14th in Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada. There, Wittman-trained top lightweight contender Justin Gaethje is expected to take on long-time fan-favorite action fighter Donald Cerrone in the evening’s main event. If Wittman plans on being in the ‘Highlight’’s corner, perhaps the UFC can find another coach to man the booth and break down his work.