Prior to the UFC sale to new owners WME-IMG, longtime commentator Joe Rogan said he would be gone if the Fertitta’s sold the organization. There was a similar sentiment from UFC President Dana White, but now that the sale has come to fruition both will be remaining for the time being.
Much like White is staying in his role, Rogan revealed on Tuesday on his “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast that he’ll be continuing on as the UFC’s main color commentator for at least the next year. However, he’s cutting out all international travel, as well as Fox events, from his schedule.
“I was on the fence, man,” Rogan said of re-signing with new ownership coming on board (transcribed by MMAFighting.com). “I just do too much s***. I’m too f***ing busy. After a while I’m like, I don’t know if I’m doing myself or all the different things I do a disservice. I was real close. It was like, either I’m just gonna completely bail off of this or I’m gonna figure it out.
“I don’t want anybody to think that I don’t appreciate it or I don’t know how lucky I am or I don’t think it’s an amazing job. I definitely do. But I’m almost too lucky. I have too many amazing jobs.
“If I go to Brazil, that’s five days out of my life that I can’t do this and I can’t do all the other stuff that I do,” he added of the travel. “And on top of that, there’s the recovery time. When I come back, I’m f***ing toast. That flying just f***s my head.”
Penick’s Analysis: Rogan’s already taken somewhat of a step back, and it makes sense for him to start winding down further. He’s been doing it for a very long time, and though he and Mike Goldberg are the most known commentary team in MMA there are others ready to take up that position. So now he’s got a foot out the door, and it might be surprising if he stays on beyond a final year. Still, that’s where he was at into UFC 200 and he’s decided to keep going for now, so that could continue happening so long as they’ll have him on.
[Photo (c) Matt Roberts via USA Today Sports]
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