Dana White is standing firmly behind Joe Rogan, making it clear he will not fire the longtime UFC color commentator despite outside pressure.
White, the CEO of the UFC, said people have contacted him urging action against Rogan, including calls for his dismissal. “In Rogan’s rise, he’s gone through some stuff personally too. I’ve had people call and say you gotta do this to Rogan,” White said, before explaining his response: “I’m like, don’t ever call me. Who the hell are you to call me and tell me who I’m going to fire?”
White emphasized Rogan’s importance to the organization, both past and present. “Joe Rogan did the first 12 fights for us for free. When we bought this company, the only two who were any good on radio were me and Joe Rogan, but nobody knew who I was. We’d get up at 3:00 in the morning, get dropped into East Coast markets, and do the same interviews over and over. Rogan and I did this for years.”
“He’s been a key, instrumental part of this company. And for anybody, I don’t give a damn how much money you have, or sponsor, or whatever. Nothing’s happening to Joe Rogan,” White added, underscoring the value he places on their long-running partnership. He summed up his stance in one word: “Loyalty. It’s the most important thing in the world to me.”
