The UFC 315 broadcast proceeded without two familiar figures: veteran voices Megan Olivi and Joe Rogan.
The pay-per-view event featured two major title fights at the top of the card. Despite the exciting matchups and action, some fans were left wondering why Joe Rogan and Megan Olivi were absent from the broadcast team.
Rogan`s absence was largely anticipated. He stopped traveling for international pay-per-view events years ago and has specifically stated he would not travel north of the U.S. border to Canada due to political disagreements, famously saying he`d “rather go to Russia” before UFC 315.
While Rogan missing the Canadian event was expected, Megan Olivi`s absence was not. This led to some fans expressing concern online about the whereabouts of the popular and longtime backstage interviewer and Octagonside reporter.
Megan Olivi Reveals Her Reason for Skipping UFC 315 Pay-Per-View
Olivi has been a prominent part of UFC broadcasts, dating back to the promotion`s partnership with Fox Sports. She was among the key personnel who transitioned to ESPN when the UFC signed its extensive broadcast rights agreement.
Although Olivi doesn`t cover every single UFC event, she is a consistent presence at pay-per-views, making her absence from UFC 315 particularly noticeable to fans. However, Olivi is currently navigating a significant personal milestone with her husband, former UFC flyweight contender Joseph Benavidez.
In a recent post on her official X (formerly Twitter) account, Olivi provided a clear and understandable reason for her sudden absence from the broadcast team.
“My doctors don’t want me flying in this third trimester. Gotta keep baby boy safe ❤️,” Olivi shared.
Olivi`s temporary break from covering UFC events is not expected to be permanent. In a follow-up tweet, she clarified her intention to return for her NFL broadcasting duties later in the year. At UFC 315, Brandon Fitzgerald stepped in to handle the backstage interviewer and reporter responsibilities.
At the commentary desk, former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz joined Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier, filling the spot typically occupied by Rogan. Rogan is expected to return to his role on the UFC broadcast team for UFC 316, which is scheduled to take place next month in Newark.
UFC 315 Delivered Exciting Finishes Despite Broadcast Absences
Even without Olivi and Rogan on the broadcast, UFC 315 delivered plenty of exciting moments for the organization`s return to Montreal.
The preliminary card kicked off with a dramatic first-round knockout by bantamweight Bekzat Almakhan against Brad Katona. On the main card, UFC lightweight Benoit Saint-Denis got things started by submitting his short-notice opponent, Kyle Prepolec.
Middleweight Marc-Andre Barriault secured a concerning finish against Bruno Silva that sadly resulted in Silva being stretchered out of the arena. This was a crucial victory for Barriault following a period of struggles in his career.
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