Joe Rogan didn't hesitate to give his honest take on how NBA icon Michael Jordan would have fared in UFC had he pursued an MMA career.
Jordan is one of the greatest athletes in the history of sport, winning six NBA titles in a dominant period for the Chicago Bulls.
The five-time NBA MVP guided the Bulls to a three-peat between 1991 and 1993, left and had a short stint in baseball, before returning to lift another three championships in a row.
Advert
His bulletproof mentality on the court was unrivalled - with it even being too much for many of his teammates to deal with on many an occasion.
A prolific golfer and gambler, Jordan's athletic prowess and competitive edge means he would have a chance of excelling in a number of fields.
But incredibly, despite having no MMA experience whatsoever, UFC commentator believes Jordan, a physical specimen standing at 6 ft 6 and 220lbs, would have been a champion in the Octagon in another life.
Advert
“If MMA existed when Michael Jordan was alive, he’d probably be the light heavyweight champion of the world,” Rogan said on a podcast with Tom Segura.
"He’d probably figure out a way to f*** everybody else up.
“It’s also his drive and championship mindset. There is just rare humans that choose to focus on football or soccer or basketball or whatever it is. But if they put the same amount of energy at an early enough age…
“There’s certain barriers that cannot be overcome and one of them is physical maturity. If you start boxing at 36 years old, I don’t care. You’re not going to be a world champion, it’s too hard. It’s what you saw with Francis Ngannou when he fought Anthony Joshua."
Dana White agrees with Joe Rogan's Michael Jordan comment
Rogan's prediction for how Jordan would fare in UFC may have raised eyebrows but his view was shared by UFC president Dana White, who is in awe of the "killer instinct" 'His Airness' had inside of him.
Advert
But because of the respect he has for Jordan, White, who has watched 'The Last Dance' three times on Netflix, does not want to add him to the list of top-tier sports stars he has met.
"You gotta go with Jordan," White said when asked which NBA player could make it in the UFC on Shannon Sharpe's podcast.
"Jordan is a killer. I've spoken about Michael Jordan many times.
"Never met him, don't know him, don't want to meet him. I like him too much.
Advert
"I respect him too much. I love his killer instinct. Don't want to meet him. Respect him to death."
Topics: Joe Rogan, MMA, UFC, Michael Jordan, NBA, Chicago Bulls
Josh Lawless