Joe Rogan has never been shy about sharing his thoughts on the direction of the UFC — and this time, he’s doubling down on something he’s been saying for years.
Having been with the promotion since 1997, Rogan is one of the sport’s most enduring voices. His passion for martial arts, particularly striking disciplines, goes beyond commentary. It’s personal. And when he sees the UFC, a company he’s stood by for decades, veer in a direction he disagrees with, he speaks up.
Recently, he expressed frustration with how Dana White was handling Magomed Ankalaev. Now, he’s turned his attention to a broader issue — one that cuts to the core of what makes combat sports great.
Rogan believes the UFC should’ve invested in kickboxing instead of Power Slap.
During an episode of his Fight Companion podcast during UFC Fight Night At London, he said plainly:
“I think the UFC f—– up when they went with slap fighting. I’ve been telling them forever, ‘You guys should get into kickboxing’. If you only like stand-up fights, it’s not like the old days of kickboxing, where they were boring. The knockouts are f—— crazy.”
He went on to suggest a striking-only division within the UFC — kickboxing, but with MMA gloves and a cage. Rogan believes it would be a game-changer, giving fans the stand-up action they crave while elevating elite talent currently fighting under less visible banners like Glory.
“Glory’s got some elite fighters. I watch Glory all the time. It’s f—— exciting, but nobody’s watching it. Nobody knows who these people are.”
Rogan’s love for striking goes way back, long before he became a household name in broadcasting. His early days as a martial artist were grounded in disciplines like taekwondo and kickboxing.
And while he’s never been afraid to ruffle feathers, Rogan’s critiques don’t come from ego — they come from love. Love for the craft. Love for the fighters. And love for a sport he believes can always be better.
