HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Bellator President Scott Coker chalked up Jimmy Smith’s departure from his longtime color commentary role as a “network decision.” Now the network has given its reason for not reaching a new agreement. Smith’s exit from Bellator was announced in late December. He’s already come to an agreement to join the UFC’s stable of broadcasters, while his Bellator position was filled with noted combat sports referee “Big” John McCarthy. In the middling period before Smith’s UFC signing, there was a mix of outrage and wonder why his Bellator tenure ended. He said contract extension talks ultimately hit a dead-end , and Jon Slusser, Paramount’s senior vice president for sports and multi-platform programming, confirmed as much with his version of the events.
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Paramount exec explains Bellator split with commentator Jimmy Smith – MMA Junkie