Dana White says 'everything's good for Joe Rogan' as UFC-Paramount era looms

USA Today

16 hours ago

Joe Rogan was around as UFC color commentator for the Spike TV era, which continued into the FOX era, which continued into the ESPN era, and will continue into the Paramount era.
The UFC this week announced a massive seven-year, $7.7. billion U.S. broadcasting rights deal exclusively with Paramount that will bring all 43 annual events to streaming on Paramount+, including select "marquee" events that will simulcast on Paramount's flagship network, CBS.
According to UFC CEO Dana White, Rogan isn't going anywhere.
"Everything's good for Joe Rogan," White said on "Pardon My Take." "Joe Rogan has no problems in life whatsoever. Joe Rogan was doing great before the deal. He's gonna do just fine after the deal."
Rogan, whose "The Joe Rogan Experience" on Spotify has grown into one of the world's most popular podcasts, made his UFC debut in 1997 as a backstage interviewer at UFC 12. Rogan also works as a stand-up comedian. While Rogan's outside-the-UFC endeavors increasingly have kept him from his cageside seat at UFC pay-per-views, White seemingly has no issue with it and is confident that his passion for MMA remains strong.
"Joe Rogan isn't here at the UFC because of the money. He did the first 12 events for free," White said. "Joe Rogan has a time problem. That's the only thing Joe Rogan has, is a time problem. If Joe didn't have a time problem, he'd even be doing the Fight Nights. Sh*t, he'd even be doing the Contender Series."
In addition to Rogan, White added there are no planned changes to the UFC broadcasting team. "Everything stays the same as far as the team goes," he said.