Joe Rogan touted a former UFC star as someone who could have been in the same conversation as Khabib Nurmagomedov and other undefeated fighters.
Joe Rogan has seen impeccable talent enter the Octagon throughout his UFC broadcasting career. But a former UFC title challenger is one of Rogan's biggest “What if's” in mixed martial arts history.
Rogan, a longtime UFC broadcaster and analyst, called most of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov's fights during his storied career. Nurmagomedov retired from MMA with a perfect 29-0 record, including title defenses against Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
Nurmagomedov's undefeated UFC career may never be matched. But for Rogan, the closest a former UFC star would have likely come to mirroring Nurmagomedov would have been if he had joined the promotion at a different time.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Joe Rogan explains how Yoel Romero could have ended his UFC career undefeated
During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan made a bold claim about former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero.
“He was 36 when he joined the UFC, and was already past his professional prime when he first started fighting in the UFC. If he had started MMA at 20, probably no one would have ever beaten him,” Rogan said of Romero.
'He's the freak of all freaks. When it comes to athletic specimens, he is a freak.”
Rogan further questioned whether or not Romero's physicality left him short of UFC gold.
“I don't know if you can maintain that kind of muscle mass and do the kind of cardio that you need to throw yourself into the fire more,” Rogan claimed. “You have to know how much gas is in the tank, and only he knows that. And that style that he has, it's a style that he has for someone who is very explosive, very smart… but you can't just keep exploding.”
Romero defeated former UFC champions Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold and Lyoto Machida during his UFC tenure. His last fight with the promotion was a loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 248, falling by unanimous decision before signing with Bellator in free agency.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
47-year-old Yoel Romero is still racking up wild knockout victories
After leaving the UFC, Romero remains one of the fiercest fighters in MMA today. He showed off his “fountain of youth” mystique in February when he defeated former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos at PFL vs. Bellator.
Entering the cage at the age of 46, Romero nearly secured a world title when he fought Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 297. But the former Bellator light heavyweight champion proved too much for Romero and Romero lost by unanimous decision.
Romero last knocked out a Power Slap competitor in a Dirty Boxing Championship match last month, once again proving that age is just a number. His wild knockout caused a viral reaction from Jon Jones at ringside.
Despite age and exhaustion, Romero remains strong and competes at a high level until he approaches fifty. While Romero accomplished a lot during his UFC run, Rogan believes the promotion brought him too late into his athletic prime.
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