Bruce Buffer will be making a return trip to WEC in June when the promotion heads to Canada in June for WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus. Buffer most recently appeared for the company on their inaugural pay-per-view show in April for Aldo vs. Faber.
Buffer was called on to replace former ring announcer Joe Martinez. Martinez posted on his Twitter account on May 17 that he has resigned from the position.
“Family, friends and fans – thanks for all of your support,” Martinez stated. “I am out as the WEC ring announcer. Family reason that couldn’t be compromised.”
Martinez later clarified to MMAFighting.com that his contract had not yet been renewed by the WEC past 2010, which led to his decision to step away.
“Golden Boy offered me a deal until 2011 that consists of roughly 98 fights,” Martinez said. “When I approached the WEC with that information and asked them, ‘What do you guys think?’ Basically, they said, ‘Well, you know, you have to look out for your family. After 2010, we don’t have any guarantee as to what’s going to be happening; if we need you, you’ll have a contract.’
“With three kids and a baby on the way, I had to look out for my family, and that’s the decision I made.”
Martinez later told MMADieHards.com, where the former announcer hosts a postcast, that he believes his ties with Golden Boy may have affected his standing with the WEC.
“I was more than willing to work around the possible conflicts,” Martinez said. “But another main factor was my work within other areas of combat sports. While I do not feel my association with a Spanish-language boxing production has any crossover, it appears to have been a big issue.”
