“I would do anything for Joe Rogan,” Dana White reveals $250 million worth comedian working for FREE during early years of UFC commentary

UFC CEO Dana White expresses deep appreciation for Joe Rogan's commitment, revealing Rogan's early days of free commentary and their enduring friendship on a podcast hosted by Julian Edelman.

“I would do anything for Joe Rogan,” Dana White reveals $250 million worth comedian working for FREE during early years of UFC commentary

Dana White on friendship with Joe Rogan (Image via: IMAGO)

UFC CEO Dana White has an unbreakable bond with comedian and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. White has always backed Rogan and was very happy about Rogan‘s latest multi-million dollar deal with Spotify. Rogan even said he would relinquish commentary duties if White left the UFC.

Both personalities have their similarities and their difference. One similarity is that both are champions of free speech. Dana White recently appeared on the Games with Names podcast, hosted by former Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman. White spoke highly of his respect and admiration for Rogan in the podcast. This is what White said:

Joe Rogan did like the first 12 or 13 shows for free. He said, 'f*ck yeah, I'll come there and do it and sit in the best seats in the house and everything else.' So Joe and I have been super close friends for a very long time. I would do anything for Joe Rogan.
Dana White via Games with Names podcast
YouTube video

Rogan did commentary for free at a time when the UFC did not do good business. Dana White revealed that even though the decision to buy the UFC for $2 million looked good in hindsight, the Fertitta brothers lost $40 million before the promotion turned in profits.

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Joe Rogan began commentary work with the promotion from UFC 11. However, he was a backstage interviewer with the promotion even before. Interestingly, White was unaware that Rogan worked backstage before he roped the comedian to do commentary.

Dana White on his top 3 fights in the UFC

Julian Edelman was a big fan of the UFC, and as such, he talked a lot about the UFC in his podcast episode that featured Dana White. Edelman had a deep respect for White’s contribution to MMA. White also respected Edelman as he was part of White’s favorite NFL team, the New England Patriots. Moreover, he also revealed that his family wore jerseys of Edelman, Tom Brady, or Rob Gronkowski when they watched NFL games.

Dana White
Dana White (via Sports Illustrated)

In the podcast, Edelman asked White to name his top 3 fights in the UFC. White named three title fights as his pick for the top 3 UFC fights. He picked Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor, and Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm. The Gustafsson vs. Jon Jones fight is already in the UFC Hall of Fame. Moreover, the fight between Nurmagomedov and McGregor broke several records and is still the highest-selling PPV in the UFC.

White also showered deep respect for Ronda Rousey. He had earlier vowed never to let women fight in the UFC. However, he stated that his decision to sign Rousey in the UFC and allow women to fight was one of the best decisions he ever made.

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