Tag: Joe Rogan

MMA Junkie’s 2013 ‘POWER’ issue revisited: Who remains among the sport’s most influential?

Here’s a look back at the most influential from our “Power” issue from mid-2013 – and who remains influential today.

In 2013, MMA Junkie, with the backing of the USA Today mothership, put out a specialty magazine.

MMA Junkie’s “Power” issue was our look, in the middle of that year, at the most influential people in the sport.

The cover featured Jon Jones, then the UFC’s new light heavyweight champion and now its current heavyweight titleholder, most prominently and in the center. Surrounding him were Ronda Rousey, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Dana White. And even though only Jones and White are left as active MMA figures, the other three names still carry much weight in the game 10 years later.

But what about the rest of the people who were what we considered the biggest names in the sport 10 years ago? Where are they now?

Here’s a look back at the most influential from our “Power” issue from mid-2013.

Bold predictions for 2024: Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Joe Rogan, UFC 300 and more

There are a lot of unknowns for the UFC and MMA in general heading into 2024, but here are seven bold predictions for the new year.

2023 was another year of challenge and change in mixed martial arts, but with that chapter expired, there’s a chance to start brand new in 2024.

There are a lot of unknowns going into the new year, but without further ado, here are seven bold MMA predictions for the next 12 months …

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Corey Anderson claps back at Joe Rogan’s contention non-UFC fighters are ‘wasting their career’

UFC analyst Joe Rogan knows a thing or two about MMA. But a recent Bellator title challenger thinks he’s misguided on some recent comments.

Longtime UFC analyst [autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] has been around the fight game plenty, and without question knows a thing or two.

But a handful of fighters outside the UFC have some thoughts about his recent assertion that if you’re not in the UFC, “no one’s watching.”

On “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast with guest UFC fighter Bo Nickal, Rogan said fighters in Bellator, the PFL and other organizations are shorting themselves.

The UFC long has been the top MMA promotion in the space. De facto No. 2 Bellator in November was sold to the PFL and that brand will be folded into that organization in 2024. PFL’s stated purpose in acquiring Bellator was to have a combined roster its executives think is as strong as the UFC’s, which would create a co-leader in the field.

UFC CEO Dana White and others, like Rogan, appear to think that’s a little ambitious on the part of the PFL, and Rogan in particular seems to think even if fighters outside the UFC are elite-level, they’re not getting the recognition they’d get with it.

But longtime UFC light heavyweight [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag], who made the move to Bellator in 2020 and challenged for the title there in 2022, took issue on Instagram with some of Rogan’s contentions and said it’s not all about a popularity contest or fame – but it is a little about fortune, and Bellator gave him that in a way that changed his life.

Now yall know I LOVE my guy Joe!

But as someone who spent 7 years in the UFC and left at #4 in the organization….. fans seeing me fight wasn’t enough to pay bills or even begin to set my family up for a future. My wife and I both had to have jobs to keep afloat in between fights until my first fight in Bellator. I always say “I make more money in Bellator”, well my last fight ranked in the top 5, and my purse didn’t even make close to 6 figures… that’s 100K… after 7 years, 15 fights, 13 top 15 opponents, and being ranked in the top 10 within my first year. (My debut fight I made 16k). Hell, even to go be on @joerogan podcast, I had scramble to find someone to cover for me at work to go.

Yet my first fight in Bellator I made 5x more and was able to free my wife of a job and focus fully on my career as a fighter for the first time ever.

SOOOOO what good is it to have a fan base when I still have to work everyday to afford life. Compared to having fewer fans, financial freedom, and set your family up for life after fighting?

Yes I make that money bc of my start in the UFC but there’s fighters like @ajmckee101 and @patchymix that built that financial freedom in Bellator who may have never gotten it in UFC and also has a fan base! Even @mikechandlermma and @michaelvenompage

So if you want fans and stardom… yes, you have a better chance in the UFC. But if you want to make money… test the field and go where the money is. 🤷🏿

FAME DOESN’T PAY BILLS……..MONEY DOES!

Rogan sold his podcast to Spotify in 2020 for $200 million. By contrast, Anderson said his final UFC bout before his free agency move to Bellator, he made five times less money than he did his first fight for Bellator, and that while he was in the UFC both he and his wife had to continue working regular jobs.

Other fighters chimed in, as well, in Anderson’s comments, including fighters who fought for the UFC, but moved on to Bellator or elsewhere, like Anderson. Check out some of their responses to Rogan’s take below.

Joe Rogan says elite fighters outside UFC are wasting their careers: ‘No one’s watching’

“There’s a reality. There’s the XFL and there’s the CFL, then there’s the f*cking NFL. And if you’re not in the f*cking NFL, are you really playing football?”

[autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] thinks elite-level fighters should look to make their way to the UFC if they truly want to maximize their position in MMA.

The longtime UFC commentator, like many voices in the MMA community, see the UFC as the ultimate proving ground for fighters to show that they’re truly the best in the world.

Rogan hosted top MMA prospect Bo Nickal on the most recent episode of his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” and Nickal revealed how he felt the UFC was the only organization he truly wanted to sign with when assessing his future. Nickal said the UFC was the spot he dreamed of when thinking of establishing a legacy, and Rogan understood that position, because he “often” feels world-class fighters outside the UFC aren’t able to truly prove their talent.

“No disrespect to the other organizations, there’s very good fighters in the other organizations, but I often feel like they’re wasting their career,” Rogan told Nickal. “Because I see these elite fighters that are fighting in Bellator or PFL, and I’m like, ‘Hey guys, no one’s watching.’

“I mean, some people are watching. You’re getting a little bit of a fanbase. I don’t want to disrespect. But, there’s a reality. There’s the XFL and there’s the CFL, then there’s the f*cking NFL. And if you’re not in the f*cking NFL, are you really playing football?”

Even after the PFL recent acquired Bellator to solidify the firmest No. 2 the industry has seen in years, there’s no denying the UFC still has a stranglehold on the biggest players in the game. That’s why Rogan thinks the prestige that comes with being a UFC champion, compared to other promotions, hits much different.

“If you’re the UFC champ, you’re the f*cking man.” Rogan said. “If you’re the Bellator champ, I respect the sh*t out of those guys. I love them. Guys like Johnny Eblen. I really wish that guy would come to the UFC.”

Additionally, Rogan thinks the entirety of the UFC operation, and the cache that comes with it, resonates until unlike anything else the sport has to offer.

“There’s this feeling of being in the UFC that everyone dreams of,” Rogan said. “You want Bruce Buffer right in front of you going, ‘It’s time!’ And you’re like, ‘Holy sh*t.'”

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Joe Rogan critical of Leon Edwards’ ‘ego-based decisions’ in UFC 296 win over Colby Covington

Joe Rogan believes Leon Edwards should’ve “absolutely dominated” Colby Covington at UFC 296 but didn’t because he wanted to prove a point.

[autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] questions UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]’ strategy in his win over [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag].

Edwards (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC) retained his title in what was a lackluster but efficient performance over Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) in this past Saturday’s UFC 296 headliner at T-Mobile Arena. Edwards engaged in the grappling with Covington toward the end of the fight, which Rogan thought was a mistake. The grappling exchanges resulted in Edwards finishing the fight on his back.

“What was interesting is that he made choices tonight that were not the best choices to win the fight but almost like to prove a point,” Rogan, who called the fight cageside, said after UFC 296 (h/t ESPN). “Like, he chose to engage Colby in grappling in moments where he did not have to, where he could have defended and got back up to his feet. I think that would be a better path to victory where he could have completely dominated the fight, absolutely dominated it.”

UFC 296 commentary team, broadcast plans set: Lead PPV team with Joe Rogan closes 2023

The commentary A-team of Jon Anik, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier will unite to call the final PPV of 2023 at UFC 296.

The 14th and final numbered UFC event of the year is rapidly approaching with UFC 296 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for the show have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the plans – and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

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Joe Rogan supports ‘more lax’ rules for injury recovery PEDs under UFC’s new anti-doping program

Joe Rogan has no issue if Conor McGregor used performance-enhancing drugs to recover.

[autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] has no issue if [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] used performance-enhancing drugs to recover.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) withdrew from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing pool when he broke his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, and has yet to return.

Although there’s no evidence to support that McGregor took PEDs during his recovery time, he has repeatedly teased the topic on social media. Longtime UFC commentator Rogan says the Irishman should be allowed to take whatever healing agents needed after suffering such a gruesome injury.

McGregor was readmitted to the USADA testing pool in October, and is expected to fight Michael Chandler in the first half of 2024. With the likes of Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman visibly struggling to successfully return from breaking their leg, Rogan thinks fighters should be able to use PEDs while they’re sidelined for recovery.

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UFC’s partnership with USADA expires at the end of this month. The agency has a hard stance against non-traditional recovery methods, but with UFC shifting to a new anti-doping partner in 2023 with Drug Free Sport, Rogan would like to see athletes have more freedom to explore expediting recovery from serious injuries.

“I would imagine it’s going to be a little more lax, and I would support that,” Rogan said in a recent episode of his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.” “I certainly support guys taking things to recover from injuries like Conor did with his leg injury. 100 percent, no question about it. I’m 100 percent all in on that. That’s the only way. No one comes back from that. No one has ever come back from that catastrophic leg break.”

Silva went 1-5-1 since returning from his leg break, whereas Weidman ended up fracturing his other leg in a unanimous decision loss to Brad Tavares in his comeback at UFC 292.

“The shin break, not a single athlete has come back from it and performed at the same level,” Rogan continued. “Anderson Silva is the only guy who came back and fought multiple times and he was not the same guy.”

Joe Rogan sees benefit to Tony Ferguson’s rigorous training with David Goggins before UFC 296

Whole some have been critical of what they’ve seen ahead of UFC 296, Joe Rogan believes David Goggins has been helping Tony Ferguson.

[autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] sees how David Goggins could help [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] ahead of UFC 296.

Ferguson (25-9 MMA, 15-7 UFC) has been training with Goggins, a highly touted former Navy SEAL, for his upcoming fight vs. Paddy Pimblett (20-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas. Videos emerged of Ferguson undergoing intense cardio sessions in which he completed Goggins’ notorious “Hell Week.”

Ferguson, who’s on a six-fight losing skid, has received criticism from the likes of Daniel Cormier and Pimblett for training with Goggins. They don’t see cardio as Ferguson’s issue and believe he should be focused on fighting fundamentals.

Rogan, however, sees it differently and said Goggins pushing Ferguson to the limit could be beneficial.

“I’m very interested to see Tony after he’s been training with David Goggins,” Rogan said in a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience.” “There’s a lot of very mixed reviews about whether or not that would be a good thing or a bad thing for him. Clearly when the two of them are training together, David is not struggling at all, and Tony is struggling.

“There is definitely some ground to gain when it comes to endurance. Dave isn’t even f*cking tired. They’re going side by side with each other, and he’s like, ‘Who’s gonna carry the boats?’ He’s not even f*cking tired because he can go for days. There’s without a doubt some benefit in that.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzfGx2-pN1P/

Rogan also thinks the criticism stems from people hating on Goggins and his work.

“Weak men hate him,” Rogan said. “Weak men and jealous men and people who don’t know him. He gets misunderstood unfortunately by some people that I like. They don’t look into it hard enough.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.

UFC 295 commentary team, broadcast plans set: Joe Rogan gets first assignment in three months

The commentary A-team of Jon Anik, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier will unite at UFC 295 for the first time since August.

The 13th and penultimate numbered UFC event of the year is rapidly approaching with UFC 295 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for the show have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the plans – and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

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Joe Rogan outraged by Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou decision, says one judge ‘should go to jail’

Joe Rogan absolutely cannot believe one judge scored the fight 96-93 in favor of Tyson Fury over Francis Ngannou.

[autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] can’t believe one judge gave [autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag] a definitive win over [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag].

Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou battled WBC champion Fury to a close split decision loss in their crossover boxing match this past Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou thought he was robbed in a fight in which he was able to drop Fury with a left hook in Round 3, the only knockdown of the fight.

The overall judges’ scorecards read 96-93 in favor of Fury, 95-94 for Fury, and the third had it 95-94 for Ngannou. Rogan believes Ngannou beat Fury, and he took aim at the particular judge who scored it 96-93 Fury.

“Francis Ngannou had never had a boxing match ever in his life, had zero boxing matches, but he was the UFC heavyweight champion, knocked down Tyson Fury in the third round, beat him up in the eighth round,” Rogan said on “The Joe Rogan Experience” with guest Elon Musk.

“Most people, including me, thought he should’ve won the decision – including most boxers, most boxing pundits. He lost by one point on one judge’s scorecard. He won on one judge’s scorecard, and another judge, who should go to jail, had it 96-93 for Tyson Fury, which is f*cking outrageous.”

It was quite the feat that Ngannou, in his very first boxing match, performed admirably against Fury, who is widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of his generation.

Rogan praised Ngannou for defying the odds and taking the fight to Fury the way he did.

“We thought (Fury) was going to run him over because he’s the boxing heavyweight champion,” Rogan continued. “‘There’s no way this guy can box with me.’ He even said at the beginning of the fight, ‘It’s time to go to school,’ and then Francis said at the end of the fight, ‘You are a sh*tty professor.'”

What comes next for Ngannou remains to be seen. Heading into the Fury fight, the expectation was for him to return to MMA in early 2024 for the PFL, who signed him to a deal earlier this year. Ngannou’s contract with the PFL gives him the flexibility to box, and given his performance against Fury, many observers believe he should strike while the iron is hot and focus on boxing instead of MMA.

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For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Fury vs. Ngannou.