Joe Rogan says he could have left the UFC a long time ago.
Famed commentator Joe Rogan has been a massive part of the UFC for nearly three decades now, calling some of the greatest fights in UFC history, like Robbie Lawler vs. Rory Macdonald 2, from the cageside broadcast booth.
Rogan started in the UFC as a backstage interviewer in 1997 and continues to deliver memorable post-fight interviews to this day. Outside of the Octagon, the comedian and podcaster was the host of ‘the hugest show on television’ Fear Factor.
The reality TV show saw contestants face their biggest fears in challenges for a cash prize. While Rogan said the gig was a ‘fun job’, he couldn’t shake the feeling, ‘I don’t wanna really be doing this…’
The UFC, on the other hand, was a completely different story.
Joe Rogan on working for the UFC: ‘It’s like a vacation’
With a built-in passion for combat sports and comfortability on camera, Rogan knew he wanted to be in the UFC. For him, calling fights alongside Jon Anik and former two-division UFC Champion Daniel Cormier, the iconic trio, is more than a job.
“I wanted to do this,” the longtime commentator said on The Joe Rogan Experience.
“I didn’t know I wanted to do this ’cause this wasn’t a thing. But once I figured it out, I was like, ‘Oh, this is what I wanna do… I wanna do this and stand-up [comedy].
“The UFC, which is like, to me, it’s not even a job. It’s like a vacation,” Rogan added.
Joe Rogan: ‘I could have quit a long time ago…’
From the early days of the UFC to the powerhouse it is today, what has kept Rogan in the sport for so many years?
The 57-year-old explained: “If you’re a person who’s a martial artist and you’re a fan of martial arts, if you get a job to talk about martial arts and to express your love for it, and your appreciation for the athletes, appreciation for the fighters and what they have to go through…
The magnitude of their accomplishments, and to put words to that, to be able to do that for a living, that’s an honor. That’s how I feel about it.
“I’m super passionate about it. I don’t do it because it’s a job. I do because I love it. I don’t need to do it. I could have quit a long time ago,” Rogan said.
Rogan recently called the UFC 313 pay-per-view earlier this month, which saw Alex Pereira drop the light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev in the headliner.