During a recent appearance on the MMA History Podcast, former UFC welterweight Marcus Davis shared a little-known connection linking himself, Joe Rogan, and a boxing coach who played an important role in both of their early careers.
Speaking with hosts, the Irish Hand Grenade confirmed that he and Rogan trained under the same coach at a Boston-area boxing gym long before either man became well known.
“Yes, we had the same boxing coach,” Davis said. “His name is Joe Lake.”
The hosts then asked Davis about his personal interactions with Rogan during that period. According to Davis, the two were around the same circles but never really got to know each other at the time.
“I didn’t really… I knew of Joe. I didn’t know Joe at that time, right?” Davis explained. “So, we were in missing each other.”
He went on to describe how their coach worked with both of them in different capacities.
“But the coach, the guy that I had, he coached me for boxing and was coaching Joe [Rogan],” Davis said. “Because Joe [Lake] was helping him learn how to do kicks and stuff. And then he was helping Joe [Rogan], yeah, Joe, because they’re both names Joe, how to throw punches.”
Davis then revealed a surprising detail about Joe Lake’s influence on Rogan’s career outside of combat sports. According to Davis, the boxing coach was also responsible for helping Rogan land his very first stand-up comedy opportunity.
“That guy got Joe Rogan his first gig in comedy,” Davis said.
He recalled a conversation he later had with Rogan about the story.
“Basically, Joe Rogan, when I hooked up with Joe [Rogan] when I started doing the show and we were talking, he was like, ‘You ever hear the story about how I got my first gig?'” Davis said.
Rogan then told him how Lake had helped make it happen.
“And then explained to me how Joe [Lake] got him his first comedy gig,” Davis continued. “And I would just laugh hysterically.”
According to Davis, Lake’s ability to make connections and open doors for people was part of what made him such a memorable figure.
“Like I told you, this guy was very connected,” Davis said.
The story also highlighted how closely intertwined the Boston-area combat sports community was during that era. Looking back, Davis marveled at how many future UFC figures were moving through the same gyms and social circles without fully crossing paths.
“It’s all timing. It’s weird,” Davis said. “It’s all this timing because, like, Dana, Joe [Lake], Cavalero, Joe Rogan, me, like we’re all in the same gyms and in the same area around the same time, but we’re kind of missing each other a little bit here and there, and then out of nowhere, we all end up in the same place.”
For Davis, reconnecting with Rogan years later during his UFC career brought the story full circle.
