Bruce Buffer has addressed the announcement error at UFC Seattle that saw Tyrell Fortune briefly believe he had lost his UFC debut, accepting full responsibility and offering a direct apology to both fighters involved.
The incident unfolded during the heavyweight bout between Fortune and Marcin Tybura at the Climate Pledge Arena, when Buffer announced the wrong winner. Fortune was already walking toward the back in defeat when he was stopped and informed that the judges had actually scored the fight in his favor. Buffer returned to the Octagon to correct the announcement and apologize in the moment.
Speaking to MMA Fighting, Buffer made clear he had no interest in deflecting blame onto anyone else in the process.
“Well, I mean, I’m my own worst critic, of course, and I don’t put blame on anybody else. I’m the messenger, I’m the one that delivers it – whether there was some confusion at the commissioner’s desk beforehand or whatever, not even worth talking about.”
As someone who describes himself as a perfectionist, Buffer said the impact on the fighters is what weighed on him most heavily, not simply the fact that an error occurred.
“Where I feel bad is that the moment I gave the fighter who thought he won, versus the moment I gave the fighter who thought he lost and then eventually won: For that, I’m dearly sorry.”
He also framed his role in terms of the responsibility he feels toward the athletes he announces.
“I have so much respect and I’m so honored to be able to announce these amazing Octagon warriors. I never want to lessen any moment in their lives, I only want to take them to the next level and heighten it as much as possible. So for that, I apologize, and onward and upward.”
Buffer has served as the voice of the UFC Octagon for over 30 years. Dana White previously noted the rarity of the error, acknowledging that mistakes of this nature are highly unusual for the veteran announcer.