It's not cool to hate the guy.
You're pretending that it's cool to hate the guy so that you can seem cool by not hating the guy
Is how it is.
I think you've forgotten in your old age.
It's a bit of the reaction and re-reaction situation.
First when Goldberg started, he was cool and liked. Then around early 2010's, when Sherdoggers got too cool and smart about MMA, they started dissing Mike Goldberg for being less knowledgeable than Sherdoggers and prone to ridiculous over-the-top commentary. In fact, it became "cool" for elitist sherdoggers to say they watch UFC fights with the sound turned off, because they are so much smarter than stupid companyman Goldberg (and Rogan).
You can probably still find Youtube videos from the 2010's on stupid/ridiculous Goldberg moments.
Then after he was booted out, the reaction to that reaction flipped again. Now, you're old school and cool if you liked and defended Goldberg because of course, everything current is shit according to Sherdog hipsters. Laura Sanko, Jon Anik, so lame and DEI. Everything OG is the best, Bas Rutten and Goldberg are awesome commentators! Pride! Fedor, Hickson Gracie, Sakuraba are the best!
So yeah, currently it's cool to like Goldberg, but don't forget the 2010s when there was plenty of hate for Goldberg.