Jimmy Smith Discusses Exit From Bellator

Jimmy Smith thinks his position at Bellator was undervalued. 

Last week Bellator and commentator Jimmy Smith parted ways and Smith is now a free agent. On the Joe Rogan Experience MMA show. Smith and UFC commentator Joe Rogan discussed current events in mixed-martial-arts including Smith's recent departure. Smith explained how contract negotiations did not work out with Bellator MMA. 

"What had happened was, I had a deal with an option year. 2018 was my option year. When I was in Verona, New York doing the Verona show, my boss sat me down and said 'we're not going to renew 2018, we want a different deal.' When they come to you and say 'we want a different deal'…it's always bad," said Smith. "They did make an honest effort to keep me. They really tried. They didn't make an offer that was worth me coming back. It was comparatively amicable," he continued.

Smith reasoned Bellator wanted to renegotiate his salary because of the notion that commentating is an easy job. 

"The weird thing is about our job, everybody thinks they 'got a guy.' It's one of those jobs that everyone thinks they can do. They go 'we'll just throw a fighter and he'll be able to do it,'" said Smith. "It's a job. It's a skill," he added. 

Smith admitted some fighters do well in broadcasting but not because the job is easy. Rogan said he would love for Smith to join UFC and he considers him the best at the job. Smith did not comment on any potential jobs.

The Joe Rogan Experience can be found on Rogan's YouTube channel.