Joe Rogan Returns After Almost Tearing Up While Broadcasting as Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik Set for UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier

Joe Rogan’s voice has become the backdrop to many of the most memorable moments inside the Octagon. Starting out his journey as a backstage and post-fight interviewer at UFC 12 in 1997, Rogan later took up the color commentary role in 2002 for free due to his love for the sport of MMA. Since then, the actor, stand-up comedian and podcast host has thrilled a generation of fans with his iconic calls from the broadcast booth.

During the historic UFC 300 event, Rogan got emotional as he fought back tears while highlighting the growth of the sport. And at the upcoming UFC 302 event, he’ll be making a return to his commentating duties alongside the usual suspects, Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier!

UFC 302 marks the return of the Joe Rogan, Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier trio on commentary

UFC 300 was one of the most highly anticipated events for the MMA fandom, and no one was more excited and thrilled than Joe Rogan. During the broadcast, the commentary team of Anik, Cormier, and Rogan were given a chance to share their thoughts on the significance of the event.

A visibly emotional Rogan exclaimed, “I couldn’t sleep last night! I kept getting up in the middle of the night, like ‘It’s happening! It’s just hours away!’ I’m so fired up”. It appeared that the color commentator was getting overwhelmed with the moment as he further went on to state, “I mean, I’ve been here since UFC 12, so, just the fact that it became the sport that it is today is beyond my wildest imagination…”

And in a recent update, it was revealed that Joe Rogan will be making a return to the broadcast booth at UFC 302 to provide commentary on the card that features a highly-anticipated clash between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier for the UFC lightweight title.

While Rogan has stopped making international trips, as evidenced by his absence at the UFC 301 card that was held in Brazil, his presence at events held in North America adds a more prestigious feel to the proceedings.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, a location that has previously hosted the UFC 288 event in May 2023 and will mark the promotion’s tenth trip to the venue.  As Rogan continues to be a pivotal figure in MMA, his commentary remains an integral part of the UFC experience, and according to UFC CEO Dana White, it was the color commentator’s martial arts expertise that helped the fandom learn more about the sport in its early days!

Dana White reveals “immeasurable” impact of Rogan on the UFC 

In his appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast, UFC boss Dana White lauded Joe Rogan for his contributions to educating the fans about the nuances of MMA at a time when no one knew what the sport was or what was happening inside the cage!  

White stated, “Early on, nobody understood the ground game, Joe Rogan would walk you through what was happening, literally before it would happen. He would tell you the set-up, what was going to come next, and everything.”

The UFC head honcho further went on to reveal that it was through Rogan’s knowledge as a BJJ practitioner that viewers at home gained an understanding of the elements of MMA and he claimed, “It’s immeasurable what this guy has done for the company and for the sport.”

Joe Rogan’s passion for the sport, coupled with his unparalleled ability to articulate its nuances, has cemented his status as a linchpin within the MMA community and despite a reduced schedule in recent years, every card he is featured on is elevated by Rogan’s voice on commentary!

Do you think the UFC would have been as successful without Joe Rogan’s presence in the broadcast booth? Why or Why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!