UFC fans believe Joe Rogan may be nearing the end of his promotional stint after a clip went viral on social media.
The renowned podcaster and stand-up comedian has been working fights since UFC 12, when he took on minimal wages as a backstage reporter and analyst after withdrawing from his own fight. He now sits on the main commentary desk at American PPV, covering some of the biggest fights of all time.
However, his schedule becomes more hectic as his podcast continues to reach new heights and he spends time at his Comedy Mothership location in Texas. So it remains to be seen how much longer Rogan will stay in the UFC and do what was once a dream role.
Joe Rogan's clip gives viewers the feeling that he is nearing the end of the UFC run
During the first part of last night's UFC 310 pay-per-view, Joe Rogan was spotted on camera and seemingly had to be reminded to look up from his phone by co-hosts Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik. The clip was spliced and posted to social media, where it was viewed more than a million times.
The footage left fans concerned that his time with the promotion may be coming to an end, with one tweet quoting: “Joe Rogan can't wait to get done with this UFC job, he's checked out.”
Another viewer theorized that it was the length of time that made Rogan feel out of date, writing, “90% of the card was bad and they are there for 8 hours straight.” And that was further echoed by a fan who said they “wouldn't be surprised if Rogan only does the main card fights soon.”
However, some viewers disagreed, noting that “He doesn't need to be there and he's clearly passionate about it.” Another added that even if he didn't comment, as a fan he would probably only sit one row at the back.
Joe Rogan provided free commentary on UFC events
Certainly, the passion Rogan has for the UFC is evident when you look at the history of his career. Even as a struggling comedian and actor, Dana White claims he was willing to work on the early events for free to see the fights live.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
“I ended up reaching out to Rogan, we hit it off and that was it,” White said of their first meeting during a recent interview with Fox News. “He said, 'Wait a minute. So you're telling me I can come to the sport I love most in the world, have the best seat in the house and talk about it on TV? I'm in!'
“He did the first thirteen for free, and the rest is history. Now he has the biggest podcast in the world and is the best martial arts commentator of all time.”
Joe Rogan has previously said he would leave the UFC if Dana White does
In recent years, Rogan has been arguably the biggest earner in podcasting after landing a monster deal with Spotify for his show The Joe Rogan Experience. It makes his UFC payouts pale in comparison, with industry estimates putting his payouts at around $50-60,000 per event.
But it's his relationship with boss Dana White that keeps Rogan thriving and keeps him interested after all these years. In addition to being a big fan of fighting and a former competitor, he claimed during an episode of his show that he has a contractual obligation to White.
He says if the controversial UFC boss ever leaves the promotion, it will immediately lead to his departure. “If Dana leaves, I'm gone,” Rogan said on a 2022 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. “That's in my contract.”
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