Joe Rogan Calls for Major UFC Rule Change that Would Transform The Sport
Joe Rogan has called for a major UFC rule change that would transform the sport.
Rogan first began working for UFC back in 1997 starting out backstage and as a post-fight interviewer.
He has since become one of the most recognisable faces in UFC and remains a key pat of the commentary team, especially for the biggest events and those based in the United States of America. But it is through his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience that he has become a household name.
It is one of the most popular podcasts in the world, and in February last year, he signed a huge $250 million deal with Spotify. In recent episode of the JRE MMA Show #170, he sat down with UFC fighter Michael 'Venom' Page to discuss a major potential rule change that would ban referee stands up when there is a lack of activity on the ground.
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Page currently competes in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions of the UFC, and is ranked tenth in the middleweight rankings. During the podcast, the pair spoke about how the rule change could impact the sport.
At present, when two fighters to go ground, referees expect them to remain active.
If there is a prolonged period of inactivity, the referee can intervene and 'stand them up' meaning they have to return to their feet.
However, Rogan believes that referees should not be allowed to stop a ground exchange, even if there is little action.
Rogan said: "Fighting doesn't have to always be ultimate excitement.
"That's why I say no stand-ups ever. When a guy takes a guy down, that person on the bottom does not want to be on the bottom.
"They want to be up, if they can't get up, tough s**t. It's only five rounds, every fight starts and ends up, which is a giant advantage for a striker, because otherwise they wouldn't be able to get themselves up.
"It's got to be pure, it's got to be real. You can't have ways that a guy won, only because the rules set it up for him to get to a better position.
Page agreed with Rogan's stance, but did share a slightly different perspective.
He added: "The only thing that I find slightly frustrating in that element, I don't mind the wrestling.
"I think the wrestling is a beautiful art and is one of the most important arts to dictate where you want the fight to go.
"But if you're taking me down, try to kill me, try to finish the fight."
Although Page supported Rogan's suggestion, critics have argued that such a change could make fights boring if referees are unable to intervene.
James Taylor