Joe Rogan Shockingly Picks UFC Pioneer with 10-15 Record to Defeat ‘Shallow’ Heavyweight Division

UFC commentator Joe Rogan reveals how veteran heavyweight with a rocky record could defeat majority of the current heavyweight division.

Joe Rogan Shockingly Picks UFC Pioneer with 10-15 Record to Defeat ‘Shallow’ Heavyweight Division

Joe Rogan talks about Tank Abbott's prowess in the current heavyweight division (via Instagram)

Once considered one of the UFC’s most entertaining divisions, heavyweight has faced instability in recent years. Francis Ngannou vacating the title, Jon Jones‘ inactivity, and Tom Aspinall‘s injury after an eye-poke incident at UFC 321 destabilized the division. Amid this backdrop, UFC commentator Joe Rogan has revisited cross-era comparisons involving veteran David ‘Tank’ Abbott and today’s heavyweight ranks.

Abbott was one of the UFC’s earliest heavyweight competitors, rising to prominence during the promotion’s formative years in the mid-1990s. He debuted at UFC 6 in 1995, earning quick knockout victories over John Matua and Paul Varelans while competing in single-night tournaments. Abbott later faced a range of opponents and retired with a record of 10-15.

Rogan has remained vocal about what he sees as a decline in the quality of the current heavyweights. Those concerns resurfaced at UFC 325, where Tai Tuivasa suffered his sixth straight loss to Tallison Teixeira in a lackluster bout that saw both fighters fatigued by the later rounds. The performance fed into broader comparisons Rogan has made between current heavyweights and earlier fighters like Abbott.

I think Tank Abbott would do really well because the heavyweight division is the most shallow division. Like would he do really well against the guys like Ciryl Gane or Tom Aspinall? Probably not but he didn’t do really well against guys like Maurice Smith. The real elite strikers of the day. But Tank Abbott was a f****ng huge man. He was an enormous, powerful guy who had ridiculous knockout power and he would brawl.

Joe Rogan via PowerfulJRE

Beyond the Tuivasa bout, another performance that may have influenced Joe Rogan’s assessment came at UFC 324, where Derrick Lewis faced Waldo Cortes-Acosta. The contest was evenly matched through the opening round, with both heavyweights find some success. In the second round, Lewis was knocked down and did not attempt to recover, allowing Cortes-Acosta to capitalize and earn a TKO.

The downturn in heavyweight activity began after former champion Francis Ngannou left the UFC for the PFL, vacating the title. Jon Jones won the championship at UFC 285, but the belt saw prolonged inactivity before he returned a year later to face Stipe Miocic and then retired shortly afterward. Momentum was expected to return with Tom Aspinall; however, an eye-poke at UFC 321 has now sidelined him as well.

Amid concerns about the heavyweight division, Joe Rogan has also discussed the potential impact of elite prospects, such as Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. He has encouraged UFC CEO Dana White to consider signing Steveson following his recent performances under Dirty Boxing and BKFC. The discussion reflects a broader push to inject new talent into a division that has struggled with consistency.

Joe Rogan goes off on not winning at the Golden Globes

Joe Rogan is widely regarded as one of the most popular podcasters in the world, driven by the global reach of his long-running show, The Joe Rogan Experience. The podcast has served as a platform for conversations with actors, athletes, politicians, and public figures from across multiple industries. Its wide-ranging guest list and extended interview format have helped it attract a massive international audience.

Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan (via Politico)

The Golden Globe Awards remain a prominent institution in entertainment, historically recognizing achievements in film and television. Rogan has stated that participation in the nomination process required a $500 registration fee, a detail that drew attention given his podcast’s global success. That requirement framed his broader criticism of how traditional awards evaluate modern media platforms.

I’ve been number one for six years in a row. All of a sudden you’re going to have a contest in front of all these people wearing tuxedos, and you’re going to say now I’m not number one? F**k off!

Joe Rogan via PowerfulJRE

Rogan’s remarks surfaced during a period when the UFC had faced scrutiny over its presence at mainstream entertainment events at the Golden Globe Awards. Those efforts have drawn criticism for appearing manufactured and out of step with the sport’s competitive identity. Joe Rogan’s comments align with that sentiment, reinforcing the divide between cultural recognition.

Also Read: