Longtime UFC analyst Joe Rogan received a lot of messages on a birthday that wasn’t his.
Joe Rogan and UFC CEO Dana White have been friends and business colleagues for more than two decades. Rogan and White are both equally responsible for the UFC’s rise over the years and have left undeniable stamps on Mixed Martial Arts.
Rogan has served as a UFC broadcaster since 1997, beginning as an interviewer before moving into a color commentary role in 2002. White, along with Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, purchased the UFC brand in 2001 when the company was on the ropes.
Rogan and White have remained close friends throughout the years, and have been at each other’s sides during the highs and lows of their careers.
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Joe Rogan responds to mistaken Happy Birthday messages to Dana White
White and Rogan’s shared interests, and similar political views, have prompted some to confuse the two combat sports personalities over the years. White celebrated his 56th birthday on Monday, but unfortunately for Rogan, the legendary podcaster received some of the well wishes intended for the UFC head.
In a recent Instagram post, Rogan responded to the mistaken birthday wishes.
“Thank you to everyone wishing me a happy birthday, but it’s not my birthday,” Rogan said.
“It’s kind of an inside joke, but people always call Dana me and call me Dana. Anyway, it’s his birthday and he’s an awesome person and I love him to death. Happy birthday my brother!”
Rogan was a notable absence from UFC 318 earlier this month. He was filled in by Paul Felder on the UFC broadcast desk alongside Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik.
Rogan has a condition in his UFC contract that he won’t serve as a UFC commentator when White leaves the promotion. Despite their closeness, that hasn’t stopped Rogan from criticizing White and the UFC’s business dealings over the years.
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Joe Rogan criticized Dana White, UFC for controversial Conor McGregor promotion
Rogan was critical recently of the UFC when reflecting on White’s decision to highlight one of Conor McGregor‘s biggest controversies in promoting UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor. The UFC used clips of McGregor destroying a bus filled with UFC fighters in an attempt to track down Khabib Nurmagomedov, after the then-lightweight contender slapped his teammate Artem Lobov.
Rogan went as far as saying that the UFC ‘encouraged’ McGregor’s behavior by including footage in the UFC 229: Countdown episode and other pre-fight promotion. McGregor pleaded ‘no contest’ to a count of disorderly conduct as a result of the incident.
Michael Chiesa, Ray Borg, and other athletes suffered injuries in McGregor’s attack.
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