Joe Rogan, well-known for his podcast and his long-standing role as a key UFC commentator, recently made an unusual remark. The 57-year-old revealed that if a certain scenario ever unfolds, he’d be willing to walk away from the UFC to focus on his podcast. Rogan has previously stated that he won’t travel outside the U.S. for UFC events, and his latest comment sparks a big question – could we be approaching the end of Joe Rogan’s time with the UFC?
Well, this is not really true according to former UFC champion Michael Bisping. ‘The Count’ often replaces Rogan for commentary duties on events outside the U.S. But will he ever replace Joe Rogan from the commentary team? In a recent interview, he shared his honest opinion on the matter.
Michael Bisping shares why Joe Rogan will always stay a member of the team
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Joe Rogan no longer travels outside the U.S. for UFC events because of scheduling conflicts. This is why he isn’t present at international shows. Instead, Rogan prefers to watch the fights with his friends and cover them live during the Fight Companion series of his Spotify podcast. With the history of being a company man, the UFC obliged Rogan and has found a replacement in Bisping. Michael Bisping has been a key figure in the UFC for almost 20 years, evolving from one of the promotion’s toughest fighters to a prominent commentator.
In 2019, he became part of the UFC commentary team, highlighting his deep fight knowledge and engaging personality. As the author of the bestselling memoir Quitters Never Win, Bisping lives by the message of his book, consistently breaking new ground even after retiring from competition. However, during a recent interview, Bisping pointed out what exactly happens when Joe Rogan doesn’t turn up for the events. While speaking on the Jaxxon Podcast he shared the details of the whole.
He said, “No, he doesn’t want to travel anymore. You know so. He only does pay-per-views and then if it’s like in Australia I’ll be doing that one. But then they mix it up between me Cruz and Felder because we all want to do the pay-per-views because you know but they’ve got their team set. They’ve got Joe Rogan, Jon Anik, and DC. You know what I mean if one of those can’t make it then they kick it down to the B-team.”
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Bisping has voiced his satisfaction with his current role, covering international UFC events in places like London, Manchester, and Abu Dhabi, or stepping in when Rogan is unavailable for PPV events in the US. Although Bisping doesn’t have a permanent role in major UFC pay-per-view events, he’s become a key figure in international UFC broadcasts. However, he is open to getting a permanent role in the commentary team as well.
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Michael Bisping has hopes of becoming a member of the commentary team soon
While reading fan wishlists in his Christmas Day analysis of UFC 2025, one fan’s request caught Michael Bisping‘s attention—a permanent spot for ‘The Count’ on the UFC commentary team. Though appreciative of the thought, the former middleweight champion stated that he doesn’t want a full-time commentator role, and that he’s always happy to step in when needed.
Addressing the suggestion he said, “Well, for one, I already have that. But I know what you’re saying—a regular spot on the pay-per-view cards will be awesome. But I don’t want to take somebody’s job. That gig is held down by Joe Rogan—the Godfather, the creator, the inventor of MMA commentary, let’s be honest. Jon Anik is number one; a lot of people call him the GOAT. And of course, Daniel Cormier. That’s set in stone. Joe Rogan doesn’t travel out of the country, and when one of those guys is unavailable, we get a little upgrade.”
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After a storied career in the Octagon, where he became the first British fighter to win a UFC title, Bisping stepped into the commentary booth, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a sharp understanding of the sport. However, it will be interesting to see whether he gets an opportunity to become permanent next.
How highly do you rate Michael Bisping as a commentator? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.