Burt Watson, the longtime former UFC event coordinator, is a beloved figure in the MMA community. He’s especially dear to us as the voice you hear every day during the intro to MMAjunkie Radio episodes.

It’s been two years since Watson abruptly left the UFC, though, as he explains, everything happens for a reason.

“I just recently lost my mother,” Watson said. “But I was home to enjoy her time, to visit her every day and be with her. The last two years allowed that.”

We caught up with Watson at our recent gathering in Las Vegas to celebrate the upcoming 2,500th episode of MMAjunkie Radio.

Check out the video above as he discusses life after the UFC, his new executive role with Alliance MMA, the thrill of preparing young fighters for the big time, and more.

And for more on the upcoming MMA schedule, please visit the MMA Rumors section of the site.