sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Unrecognisable Joe Rogan had another job in the UFC before being a commentator

Home> MMA> UFC> UFC News

Published 13:45 16 Oct 2024 GMT+1

Unrecognisable Joe Rogan had another job in the UFC before being a commentator

The podcaster is one of the most famous figures in the MMA world, but he looked very different at his first UFC event

Ryan Baldi

Ryan Baldi

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Thanks to his long-standing role as a commentator on UFC pay-per-views and the host of an enormously popular podcast, Joe Rogan is one of the most famous figures in the MMA world.

Yet the 57-year-old stand-up comedian is hardly recognisable from his first appearance on a UFC broadcast.

Rogan has been the lead colour commentator at Octagon-side for more than two decades now.

And after a stint as the host of reality TV show Fear Factor in the early 2000s, a long career as a comedian and more than 2,000 episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the jiu jitsu black belt and former kickboxer has built up a huge following.

Advert

Dana White and Joe Rogan speak on the broadcast before a UFC event. Image: Getty
Dana White and Joe Rogan speak on the broadcast before a UFC event. Image: Getty

But his first gig with the UFC came long before Rogan was a household name.

The event was UFC 12 in February 1997, back in the era before Dana White oversaw the fight promotion.

A 19-year-old Vitor Belfort – whose name at the time was being Americanised to "Victor" – blazed through the heavyweight tournament with back-to-back TKO wins.

And Jerry Bohlander won the lightweight tournament, while Mark "the Hammer" Coleman defended his heavyweight title against one-time WWE star Dan Severn.

A fresh-faced, 29-year-old Rogan served as the cage-side reporter, providing updates on what was happening behind the scenes as well as interviewing fans, fighters and coaches.

Long before he embraced his now trademark bald look, Rogan boasted a full head of hair and even appeared slightly jittery in front of camera.

This was a time before he shot to fame with Fear Factor and almost 13 years before he'd start a podcast.

Back then, Rogan was best known for a relatively small recurring role on the hit US sitcom NewsRadio, which ran from 1995 to 1999 and in which the UFC icon played Joe Garrelli, the radio station's electrician and handyman.

A mainstay of the UFC's biggest events ever since, Rogan claims he will only step away from his role calling fights on one condition: if long-time UFC CEO White ever walks away from the organisation.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: UFC, Joe Rogan, Dana White

Ryan Baldi
Ryan Baldi

Recommended reads

Ranking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGettyBarry Hearn sends message to Ronnie O'Sullivan over snooker future as Crucible prediction madeGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

22 hours ago
a day ago
2 days ago
3 days ago
  • Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images + Nina Drama
    22 hours ago

    Dana White slammed for weird reaction to Nina Drama's feet

    The UFC boss joined Nina Drama for a livestream, and things got weird.

    MMA
  • Getty
    a day ago

    UFC fighter incredibly confirms he was in prison in Mexico during eight-month absence

    The fighter took to social media to confirm his freedom.

    MMA
  • Nina Drama
    2 days ago

    UFC star 'nearly breaks' influencer's forearm with wild new technique

    Jiri Prochazka showed off the crazy technique to Nina Drama ahead of his UFC light heavyweight title fight next weekend.

    MMA
  • Megan Briggs/Getty Images for Netflix
    3 days ago

    Jake Paul's first MMA fight on Netflix leaked by his manager

    The influencer may finally make his debut inside the MMA octagon.

    MMA
  • Joe Rogan Calls For Dana White to Make Popular UFC Change
  • Joe Rogan tells Dana White to 'spice' up White House card with another title bout
  • Joe Rogan reveals incredibly unusual clause in his UFC contract and drops hint over quitting for good
  • Dana White left shaken after UFC fighter Joe Pyfer's sad suicide admission