Joe Rogan reveals his 'biggest regret' in MMA history as he recalls Dana White's failed talks with 'gangsters'

Joe Rogan has revealed his 'biggest regret' in MMA history as he recalled Dana White's failed talks with 'gangster-type characters' over a UFC super-fight.

Rogan was joined by UFC superstar Ilia Topuria in the latest episode of his podcast.

The 57-year-old opened up on his UFC contract and disclosed the incredibly unusual clause that is written in his deal as he dropped a hint over walking away from the MMA promotion.

He also revealed his 'biggest regret' in MMA history.

Rogan name-dropped Fedor Emelianenko as he lamented a super-fight not happening in the UFC.

In his prime, Emelianenko was regarded as the best fighter in MMA, having beat the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman under the Pride banner.

"My main regret in MMA is we never got to see Fedor fight in the UFC when he was in his prime," he told Topuria on The Joe Rogan Experience.

"If I could have one thing, one fight in their prime, Fedor vs. Cain Velasquez. In their prime. That would have been incredible."

Fedor Emelianenko never fought in the UFC. Image: Getty

Asked why the UFC didn't sign Emelianenko, Rogan replied: "They tried."

The podcaster claims UFC chief White held discussions with Emelianenko's team over a UFC deal but talks stalled amid a series of demands from 'gangster-type characters'.

He added: "I’ve got to be careful how I say this: Fedor was controlled by some Russian people that were very rough men, as it were. Gangster-type characters. They had a bunch of negotiations with the UFC, but they were very unreasonable demands.

"They wanted part of the promotion; they wanted to own a piece of everything because they knew with Fedor, they had their golden ticket, and they wanted to play it out as much as possible.

"Negotiations were very intense and very confrontational. They got bad, where Dana had to up his security. It got pretty heavy. These were dangerous people... It got crazy.

“In his prime, Cain Velasquez vs. Fedor. That’s my biggest regret. A fight that we never got to see.”

Emelianenko fought most of his MMA career in Japan before signing for Affliction, where he defeated two former UFC champions in Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski.

The Russian great was then snapped up by Strikeforce.

But he went 1-3 in Strikeforce, losing to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva and Dan Henderson.

Emelianenko also fought in Bellator before calling time on his legendary career.