In a move that has sparked widespread condemnation among fight sports enthusiasts, UFC commentator Joe Rogan has suggested legalizing strikes to the back of the head in mixed martial arts competitions—a proposal critics say could have life-threatening consequences.
During a recent episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, the veteran commentator questioned the current prohibition on the “rabbit punch,” a strike to the back of the head that is banned in combat sports due to the serious risk of brain damage it poses.
“I don’t even know if we should stop hitting people in the back of the head,”
Rogan stated on his show.
“That doesn’t make any sense to me. It should be legal. I don’t understand why it’s not legal.”
Rogan, who has over three decades of experience as a combat sports analyst, went on to compare the vulnerability of different areas of the head.
“I’m sure if you talk to a neuroscientist, they say that’s a particularly vulnerable area. But man, isn’t the temple? Aren’t the eyes? Everything is so vulnerable. You could elbow a dude in the eye socket, 100% legal. Explain to me why the back of the head is so much more vulnerable. I don’t get it.”
The commentator also referenced how the sport used to allow such techniques.
“In the old days of MMA, when a guy got someone’s back, they would just drop elbows down on his head. All this punching just to the side is not realistic,”
Rogan added.
The response on social media was swift and severe, with fans expressing serious concerns about the potential dangers. Many referenced the tragic case of boxer Prichard Colon, who was left in a coma for 221 days after suffering repeated blows to the back of the head during a boxing match.
“Does Joe know who Prichard Colon is?”
one fan questioned, while another characterized Rogan’s proposal as a “brain damage speedrun.”
This isn’t Rogan‘s first push for rule changes in MMA. He previously advocated for legalizing the 12-6 elbow strike, which eventually gained approval from UFC and MMA authorities in the United States. However, his latest suggestion has been met with unprecedented resistance, even from longtime supporters.
“Joe, I can’t keep defending you,”
admitted one fan on social media. Another directly accused the commentator:
“Joe wants people to die.”
While Rogan has built a reputation for proposing radical ideas to make MMA more exciting—from revamping scoring systems to suggesting cage-less competitions—this latest controversial take appears to have crossed a line for many in the combat sports community.
As one of the most influential voices in MMA with a following nearly as recognizable as Dana White, Rogan‘s comments carry significant weight in the industry, making the widespread rejection of his proposal all the more notable.
