Charly Arnolt initially declined when UFC producers came to her with a time-sensitive opportunity at UFC on ESPN 55 . With cage announcer Joe Martinez battling illness during Saturday’s card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the promotion needed someone to step in to introduce the fighters and read results for a few main card fights. That’s when Arnolt appeared in the octagon to do the job, becoming the first female cage announcer in the history of the company . It was a significant moment for Arnolt, but it almost didn’t happen. One of my producers walked up to me and he’s like, ‘Hey, Joe Martinez, the octagon announcer is sick – his voice is giving out,” Arnold said Sunday on her Instagram account