It is no coincidence that the rapid growth of both the UFC and Joe Rogan’s JRE Podcast have taken place during parallel timelines. Behind Dana White, Rogan is the second most globally recognizable person associated with the UFC brand. But, having worked for the UFC since 1997, does he have any stake in ownership rights with the UFC?
No, Joe Rogan does not own the UFC, nor does he have any stakeholder ownership in the UFC. The UFC pays Rogan on a per-event basis and with his busy schedule he only does fight commentating on major UFC events. The UFC is owned by TKO Group Holdings, a subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings.
Also see: Joe Rogan Has 3 Different Black Belts: A True Master
How Rogan Got Started in the UFC in 1997
Joe Rogan and the UFC are seemingly synonymous with each other around the globe. But how did he, once known as “The Guy from Fear Factor” become one of the most recognizable faces in sports commentary?
As a martial arts fan and competitor for most of his life, he started following the Ultimate Fighting Championship from its infancy. He started working for the UFC in 1997 as a post-fight interviewer and after some negotiations with Dana White, he started calling fights in 2002.
Just four years after the UFC was founded in 1993, Rogan was hired in 1997 as a backstage guy, and soon became a post-fight interviewer. This time was before he became worldwide famous, but was interested in the job because of his passion for mixed martial arts.
Also see: How Many Black Belts Does Joe Rogan Have?
Rogan’s First UFC Commentating Appearance
The beginnings of the UFC were not nearly as glorious and eventful as they are today. The events would take place at a lot of rural places, the pay was scarce, a lot of fighters had to handle travel and other expenses by themselves.
Rogan’s first show as a post-fight interview was UFC 12: Judgement Day, in Dothan, Alabama. The event featured two tournament brackets, lightweight and heavyweight, and featured future stars Mark Coleman and Vitor Belfort.
During Rogan’s first stint with the UFC he stayed for about two years, with the money being scarce. In most cases, he later said, his salary would not even cover his traveling costs.
In 2001, the UFC changed owners, one of the most important factors for the Ultimate Fighting Championship becoming what it is today. The new owners, Zuffa, had a more grand and professional vision for mixed martial arts (MMA) competition.
Zuffa selected Dana White as the new president of operations. One of his first moves was to get in touch with Rogan, who he was already friends with and convince him to return to the UFC.
White knew that a recognizable, charismatic face is important for every brand. He thought that Rogan could be that guy for the UFC while at the same time growing a new batch of superstars, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, that would transcend the sport and push the UFC to a new level.
Joe Rogan Almost Turned The UFC Down
Rogan admitted that he wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about returning to the UFC in 2001. He was reluctant to come back in the role of a color commentator, despite Dana White’s resilient pursuit.
The problem was Rogan was a huge fan of UFC and saw those events as a fun getaway with his friends – not a job. They were like an oasis where he could let loose, drink and enjoy the fights with his close circle of friends. He didn’t want to give that up.
See Also: The Top 25 Best Friends of Joe Rogan
But, White was persistent and managed to hire him after a year. He did his first 15 UFC events for no money, but in exchange for front row tickets for himself and his friends. After those 15 shows, he finally signed a contract with the UFC.
Joe Rogan Getting Into UFC Has Paid Off Big-time
Rogan’s experience working for the UFC has been a win-win scenario for all parties involved – the UFC, the fans, and Rogan.
The UFC has grown into a juggernaut, now owned by TKO Group Holdings, that has outgrown boxing, because of better weight divisions, full-body fighting, and having a unified champion.
Due to his charisma, stage presence, and pure love for MMA, Rogan has became one of the best color commentators ever, and also the face of the UFC.
White said Rogan is the “person who has educated the most people about MMA.” He also added that Rogan is the best announcer of all time, not just in the UFC, but in any sport, ever.
Fans and co-commentators alike adore Rogan. He has won a lot of awards. The most important ones include Best Television Announcer by the WNOA, which he won on two separate occasions, and MMA Personality of the Year which he has won an incredible ten times.
