UFC icon Bruce Buffer had fighter try to steal his mic in never-seen-before UFC moment

UFC icon Bruce Buffer had fighter try to steal his mic in never-seen-before UFC moment,Long-time UFC ringer announcer Bruce Buffer recalled the time that he stood his ground from legendary Japanese fighter Kazushi Sakuraba who attempted to steal the microphone at UFC Japan in 1997

UFC icon Bruce Buffer had fighter try to steal his mic in never-seen-before UFC moment

For 26 years, Bruce Buffer has been the announcer at the vast majority of UFC's pay-per-view events across the globe.

The brother of boxing's legendary Michael Buffer, who opens fights with the famous 'Let's get ready to rumble', Bruce has followed in his footsteps with shouting 'It's time', before the main event on the night. Like his brother, Bruce has become a much-beloved and respected figure in the world of sports – with fighters looking forward to hearing their name called by the 65-year-old.

However, when you're working next to some of the most highly-skilled fighters on the planet, announcing one as a winner and the other, ultimately, as the loser – it's not entirely a surprise that you might rub people the wrong way.

READ MORE: Jake Paul and Andrew Tate square off in gym as negotiations for fight 'confirmed'

Back in 1997, just a year after Buffer had joined the UFC, he had travelled to Japan for the first ever overseas event which the company held.

On the night, up-and-coming Japanese star Kanushi Sakuraba had been making his UFC debut, facing Brazilian Marcus Silveira in a heavyweight bout.

Just after a minute of the bout, referee John McCarthy called a stoppage prematurely, when he had thought that Sakuraba had been knocked out unconscious by an elbow. The referee later admitted that he made an error, but the fight had already been called.

Bruce Buffer and Kanushi Sakuraba's incident in 1997

After intervention from judges and the UFC, the bout was drawn a no contest, which Buffer had announced to a stunned crowd in attendance.

But in the never seen before footage, which Buffer posted on his Instagram, Sakuraba attempted to steal the microphone from him to address the crowd himself.

Buffer was less than impressed, however, and refused to give over the mic. He later explained that he believes he has to do his job just as the fighters do theirs.

Instagram

Buffer wrote: "The first UFC in Tokyo, Japan in 1998 was quite an historic event overall & for me too as was it the first time the legendary UFC/PRIDE fighter named Kazushi Sakuraba tried to grab my microphone because he was upset at the decision to stop his fight with the powerful @ConanSilveira declaring him the loser after which they were brought back into the Octagon to repeat their fight due to protest from fans in attendance and officials, which has never happened before or again.

"I always stand my ground as with all respect to our amazing Octagon Warriors. they’ve got their job to do and I’ve got mine."

Later on that night, Sakuraba and Silveira stepped in the octagon to finish their fight, with Sakuraba winning via a first-round armbar. Buffer will be announcing this weekend's fights at UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden, New York City.