Ring announcer
A ring announcer is an in-ring employee or contractor for a boxing, professional wrestling or mixed martial arts event or promotion, who introduces the competitors to the audience.
In boxing and mixed martial arts bouts, introductions occur after both fighters have entered the ring or cage. Along with each fighter's name, the announcer typically also announces their height, weight, town, nickname, win–loss record and any current or past titles the fighter has won. In MMA, the fighting discipline is usually announced. In professional wrestling, wrestlers are similarly introduced, though usually before or as they come to the ring. In-ring introductions are sometimes used for title matches or other major bouts, to add a "big fight feel".
The ring announcer often states the rules of the match. In boxing and MMA, this is usually limited to the number of scheduled rounds and the length of each round. In professional wrestling, the Professional [wrestling match types|variations are much more numerous] and so the announcer may have to explain significantly more to the audience.
When an MMA or boxing bout concludes, the ring announcer announces the winner, time of finish and method. If the fight lasts all scheduled rounds, the announcer will read the fight judges' scorecard totals, before announcing a unanimous, majority, or split decision victory for one of the fighters, or a draw. This is typically done from inside the ring or cage.
In professional wrestling, the announcement is usually performed outside the ring, and typically does not mention the time or method of victory unless it is from disqualification, submission, or knockout; however, as professional wrestling shows do incorporate an official timekeeper at ringside, much like boxing and MMA, some ring announcers may be informed of the time of the fall at the match's conclusion and will relay that information to the audience as well.
Even further to this, some professional wrestling matches will stipulate a time limit, within which a wrestler must win if they wish to avoid a time-limit draw. In cases like this, the ring announcer may inform the audience of how much time has passed and how much time remains.
In a championship match, the announcer specifies that the winner is either still the champion or the new champion.
List of notable ring announcers
Fighting
- Bob Alexander
- Charly Arnolt - On April 27, 2024, she became the first female ring announcer in UFC history, temporarily replacing Joe Martínez, who was reportedly ill.
- Michael Buffer
- Bruce Buffer
- Dom Lau
- David Diamante
- Cyrus Fees
- Bret "Hollywood" Freeman
- Lenne Hardt
- Joe A. Martinez
- Kody Mommaerts or 'Big Mo'
- Jimmy Lennon
- Jimmy Lennon Jr.
- Tina Schüßler Germany
- Andy Shepherd
- Thomas Treiber
- Ricky Wright
Professional wrestling
- Alexa Bliss
- Jeremy Borash
- Scarlett Bordeaux
- Michael Buffer
- Gary Cappetta
- Tony Chimel
- Bill Dunn
- Howard Finkel
- Dasha Fuentes/Gonzalez
- Sunny
- Lilian Garcia
- Shaul Guerrero
- Christy Hemme
- JoJo
- Kelly Kelly
- Kevin Kelly
- Lauren Mayhew
- Mike McGuirk
- Joe McHugh
- Rosa Mendes
- "Mean" Gene Okerlund
- David Penzer
- Summer Rae
- Brandi Rhodes
- Justin Roberts
- Ricardo Rodriguez
- Mike Rome
- Savannah
- Byron Saxton
- Andy Shepherd
- SoCal Val
- Alicia Taylor
- Tiffany
- Caylee Turner
- Samantha Irvin