Joe Rogan Has One Guest He’ll Never Invite on Podcast for Personal Reason
Joe Rogan has had guests from all walks of his life on his podcast ever since it launched back in 2009.
The Joe Rogan Experience boasts more than 2,000 episodes on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, with some of the most high-profile guests including Donald Trump, Elon Musk, The Rock, Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury.
As a long-time UFC commentator, plenty of Rogan's podcasts involve discussions around MMA and he has had plenty of legendary figures in his studio for conversations.
However, there is one guest who will seemingly never get the call-up because of UFC president Dana White.
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Ariel Helwani is one of the most respected journalists in all of MMA, winning the Journalist of the Year every year since 2010 and previously working for the likes of ESPN, Fox and MMA Fighting.
Rogan has praised him in the past but because of his loyalty to White, who hired him back in 1997, Helwani doesn't believe he will ever get the call-up to the 'JRE'.
"Throughout our entire time knowing each other he (Rogan) has always been kind and complimentary but given his relationship with Dana, he's not going to have me on," Helwani said on his The Ariel Helwani show,
"And I get that, I don't need to be on. I routinely say that what he has built is so impressive and admirable, it's the biggest podcast in the world.
"The one issue I have with him, which we've talked about a thousand times, is that I did not appreciate the Monday after UFC 199 when he told a version of the story that was 1000% fabricated and that was potentially damaging to my reputation.
"He said a bunch of stuff happened that never happened, it was just their version of the story that they wanted out there to make it seem that I did something wrong and that was very hurtful."
Helwani was banned after UFC 199 controversy
Helwani's comment about UFC 199 is in reference to when he was issued with a lifetime ban from White and UFC. On the night where Michael Bisping became the first British champion in the promotion's history, Helwani broke the news that Brock Lesnar was returning to UFC for UFC 200.
The Canadian got the scoop and reported the return prior to the UFC's official announcement, leading to Helwani and two colleagues being escorted out of the Forum before the main event - with press credentials removed.
Helwani was reportedly told by White that his ban was also issued for being "too negative", with then-UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta making the call.
The decision was widely criticised, with some fighters weighing in. Two days later, amid the backlash, the ban was reversed as UFC issued a statement on the situation.
However, Helwani has not been present at a UFC event since 2020 despite covering the sport of MMA.
During an appearance on the IMPAULSIVE podcast, White said he was "upset" about the UFC's relationship with Helwani and "that maybe we should figure this thing out".
In response, the 43-year-old said he was unsure whether there was sincerity or sarcasm in the comments from White but added that holding grudges is a "cancer to your body".
Josh Lawless