After facing huge backlash for the controversies tied to his podcast show Joe Rogan experience -Joe Rogan is finally coming back to the UFC. According to UFC president Dana White, Rogan willb e in the commentary booth for UFC 272.
Famous podcaster and stand-up comedian was absent from his spot during UFC 271 last month. He was replaced by former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping during fight week.
Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani initially reported that Rogan’s absence from the commentary booth was due to scheduling conflict, but Dana White shot down the report saying Rogan choose not to work that day.
Joe Rogan has been battling the ‘woke’ mob for quite some time. The first round of outrage focused on Rogan’s choice to invite two controversial scientists on the podcast. These doctors provided some questionable claims relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the fall out from the ‘misinformation gate’ Spotify opted to put a disclaimer on some of the podcasts – while Rogan promised to feature experts of opposing views more often.
Following the Covid 19 outrage an old compilation of Rogan using racial slur surfaced. Rogan was quick to react and released a statement:
“I know that to most people, there’s no context where a White person is ever allowed to say that, never mind publicly on a podcast, and I agree with that,” he said. “Now, I haven’t said it in years,” Rogan added “I certainly would never want to offend someone for entertainment with something as stupid as racism.”
Despite Rogan’s comeback to the spot, the UFC 272 commentary team will miss a familiar face in Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier who’s just had his mother pass earlier this week. Michael Bisping will once again step in and serve as the third man alongside the play-by-play commentator Jon Anik.
UFC 272 will be headlined by the welterweight grudge match between former teammates and best friends Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
Fighting in the co-main event spot will be the former UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos will be facing the late replacement Renato Moicano in a 5-round bout after his original opponent, Rafael Fiziev tested positive for COVID-19.
While UFC 272 doesn’t have any title fight, the event is stacked with entertaining fights such as Kevin Holland making a UFC welterweight debut against Alex Oliveira and the returns of undefeated Bryce Mitchell against Edson Barboza.