UFC commentator Joe Rogan slams violent medieval sport Calcio Storico still celebrated in Florence
Joe Rogan
recently talked about a strange old sport called calcio storico. He sounded very confused. He said it looks like a mix of rugby and MMA, with a ball and a lot of fighting. He asked why there is a ball at all, since players beat each other up on the field.
This is still played today in Europe, especially in Italy, and it surprised him a lot.
Joe Rogan questions violent
medieval sport
Calcio Storico on podcast
Joe Rogan spoke on his podcast episode #2356 with guest Mike Vecchione when he learned about calcio storico. He asked,
'Have you ever seen that game? I think it's called calcio storico… It's like rugby and MMA. They play in Italy and some other places.'
Joe Rogan said,
'They get together as teams… I don't know what the deal is with the ball, they beat the piss out of each other… animals.'
He described wrestling, takedowns, bodyslams, elbows to the face and called it 'absolute mayhem.' He still could not understand why a ball would be used in such a violent game.
Calcio Storico 2025 final in Florence shows brutal mix of rugby and MMA
Calcio storico is an old game from Florence, Italy. It began in the 1500s and returned as a yearly event in the 1930s. Today, three matches are held each June in Piazza Santa Croce. The semi-finals take place in mid‑June, usually June 14 and 15 in 2025.
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The final is played on June 24, Florence's feast day for Saint John the Baptist.
There are four groups of 27 local players, each representing a historical section of the city: Santa Croce (Blues), Santa Maria Novella (Reds), Santo Spirito (Whites), and San Giovanni (Greens).
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Traditional clothing is worn by players who seek to score by throwing or kicking a heavy ball into a goal at the brief sides of the sand pitch.
The 50-minute game lets wrestling, head-butts, elbow strikes, and choking. Some strikes are presently prohibited; only one player is allowed to strike.
The Reds of Santa Maria Novella crushed the Greens of San Giovanni with a dominating 17 to 4 in the 2025 final on June 24. In Florence, this activity is still a major medieval custom that attracts sizable local crowds.
Calcio storico is not widely played beyond Italy.
But it remains a dramatic, violent, and centuries-old tradition. Joe Rogan's surprise shows how rare this mix of ball game and combat looks to outsiders.
FAQs
What is Calcio Storico?
It's a 500‑year‑old violent sport in Florence, Italy, that mixes rugby and MMA.
When is Calcio Storico played in 2025?
The semi‑finals were held in mid‑June and the final took place on June 24 in Florence.
Why did Joe Rogan talk about Calcio Storico?
He saw how brutal the sport is and said on his podcast he couldn't understand why there's even a ball.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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