Ilia Topuria Knockout at UFC 317 PPV Makes Joe Rogan Ready to Break His One Longstanding UFC Rule

There is red flags regarding Ilia Topuria bringing PPV title booking to Spain, but color commentator Joe Rogan is here for it if it happens.

Ilia Topuria Knockout at UFC 317 PPV Makes Joe Rogan Ready to Break His One Longstanding UFC Rule

Joe Rogan admits that he may need to travel to Spain to watch spectacular Ilia Topuria (Source: X)

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So far in 2025, PPV commentator Joe Rogan has been there for five of the seven UFC PPV offerings and numbered cards. But his one golden rule that has never changed is that he won’t do anything but stateside commentary. Now, after Saturday’s UFC 317 PPV main event, Ilia Topuria and his winning performance might have propelled him to consider otherwise.

In 2025, Joe Rogan missed commentating out on are the UFC 312 PPV card featuring middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis taking on Sean Strickland. He also missed out on Belal Muhammad’s unsuccessful 170-pound title defense for UFC 315, held at the Bell Centre in Canada.

While this means Rogan also missed out on some biggies, like Ilia Topuria’s third-round KO over Max Holloway at Etihad Arena for a PPV headliner spot, he could reverse that decision. While the JRE host doesn’t travel far from Austin to commentate (minus wanting an extravehicular trip to the Moon!), Joe Rogan will happily do it for UFC Spain, with “El Matador” at the PPV top bill:

I might have to go to Spain. I might have to go to Spain… I’ve always wanted to go to Spain anyways. Let’s go to Spain. I mean, Islam and him in Spain, come on. Come on.

Joe Rogan on post-fight panel at UFC 317 | ESPN MMA (@ESPNMMA)

In his post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White said that while the promotion still had plans for a Spain PPV header, and that it wasn’t “even an option right now.” Olympic broadcaster and MMA journo Rodrigo del Campo González backed this, writing on X about the current issues regarding hosting an event in a stadium setting.

Ilia Topuria has always been on tap for the event due to his unprecedented stardom, even before becoming two-weight champ. However, the logistics of organizing an open-stadium PPV card have never been done before, and the fan experience is a big ‘what-if’ here, according to White.

Topuria’s manager, Lukasz Orzel, said that Real Madrid fan Topuria booking a spot at the 80,000-seat setting meant it took away half the grind for the El Clásico rival FC Barcelona. Hence, the idea of UFC Spain was dead in the water due to logistics.

Topuria bringing the Octagon to Spain would be a big thing; not just for Joe Rogan but other enthusiasts as well. But the grind takes a long stretch; like a full house Noche UFC PPV lineup, it also needs to have must-see Spanish talents in the lineup. There is another option to bypass this that won’t need a Spain setting for now.

Joe Rogan suggests the UFC should make a U-turn on the Ilia Topuria PPV superfight after UFC 317 feat

#1 pound-for-pound name and new two-weight champ Ilia Topuria isn’t out of options and PPV bookings to have at lightweight. Top contender Arman Tsarukyan fired shots that Topuria was presumably ducking. Meanwhile, a PPV title grudge match with Paddy Pimblett seems like all the possibility in the world.

Joe Rogan wants Ilia Topuria to fight former divisional king
Joe Rogan wants Ilia Topuria to fight former divisional king (Source: X)

Others, including top 5 lightweight Justin Gaethje, might also get their dues and a crack at Ilia Topuria. Although any of these three fights would be interesting for Topuria, UFC commentator Joe Rogan suggests that the UFC execs begin from “square one” in their matchmaking. That would be the former longtime reigning 155-pound king, Islam Makhachev.

Topuria relinquished his 145-pound gold and made the trip up to 155 in hopes of the PPV Super fight. But with them a division apart, the current rivalry beyond mere banter is stalled. Makhachev will look to become a two-division champion himself against newly minted 170-pound king Jack Della Maddalena.

However, Joe Rogan presented it be Topuria vs. Makhachev as the go-to super fight and Pound-for-pound skills test.

I think Islam is the fight, Yeah, …yeah [Again] If I’m the matchmaker, I’m calling Islam, …I’m like, look, Jack Della [fighting him], that’s a lot of fun…Maybe when they call him up and they say, is there a number? Is there a number we can do?

Joe Rogan further on post-fight panel at UFC 317 | ‘DC & Joe Rogan react to Ilia Topuria becoming the UFC lightweight champion’ | ESPN MMA (@ESPNMMA)

Topuria said #1 contender Tsarukyan and his #8-ranked “Baddy” both needed to log wins. Otherwise, they might even hash it out in a title eliminator to merit a title fight with him. Meanwhile, a Makhachev super fight is the one to make and has been all through 2025. It also bypasses the Spain problem with the Dagestani being a big PPV draw for October Abu Dhabi slots, and Topuria having traveled to the East before.

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