It would appear that longtime UFC commentating veteran Joe Rogan is pulling back on his services with the acclaimed mixed martial arts promotion. The Taekwondo competitor, turned comedian, turned MMA commentator has been with the UFC since 1997. After years of dedication and service to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the fight promotion may be nearing the end of an era.
Last year, Joe Rogan extended his contract for an additional year. On his famed podcast Joe Rogan Experience, as transcribed by Bloody Elbow back in July of 2016, Rogan explained that he was becoming burnt out.
“I signed for at least one more year. I was on the fence man, I just do too much (expletive). I’m too (expletive) busy. I don’t know if I’m doing myself or all the other things I do a disservice,” Rogan said.
Since then, for one year, Rogan has no longer been attending UFC events overseas. Past that, Joe Rogan previously admitted that he would leave the UFC if the Fertitta brothers were ever to sell the mixed martial arts promotion. Well, the UFC was sold to WME-IMG just last year.
Now, with almost exactly a year having past, the commentating veteran’s UFC contract is nearing its end. There is one month left.
Since Joe Rogan began working with the UFC, the commentator’s career has spun in many directions. Rogan is now an accomplished comedian, with multiple hit specials. The commentator has turned into a podcast tycoon with the success of his series Joe Rogan Experience and the rising fame of Fight Companion. At the end of the day, the 49-year-old commentating veteran certainly doesn’t need to continue speaking ringside for the UFC.
With Joe Rogan’s budding comedy career, podcast media empire of Joe Rogan Experience and Fight Companion and increasing age, it is becoming quite possible that it may be nearing the end of an era for the UFC.
Will Joe Rogan renew his contract in the coming weeks?
