It’s damn near impossible to imagine the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) without colour commentator, Joe Rogan, but according to his contract, there will come a day when the world’s most prolific podcaster and noted DMT enthusiast won’t be around to interview an MMA fighter immediately after they’ve been sent to the shadow realm on a pay-per-view event.
“I’m a professional fan,” the man himself explained in an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.
“If [UFC President Dana White] leaves, I’m gone. That’s in my contract.”
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The loyalty and love Rogan has for White is certainly a two-way street. On several occasions, the latter has sung his praises of the former, even going as far as to crediting the retired Fear Factor host with the UFC’s mainstream popularity.
“Part of the reason we’ve grown so fast is because Rogan’s ability to walk you through what’s going on while it’s happening,” said Dana White.
“He’s brilliant, he’s so good, and he’s so passionate about the sport… This is not a guy who is just there for the paycheque, this is a guy who loves this stuff. We didn’t pay Rogan the first 12 events he worked, he did them for free.”
Which begs the question: what does Joe Rogan get paid to commentate UFC pay-per-view events?
Joe Rogan UFC Salary: How much does he get paid to commentate?
Joe Rogan made his debut as a UFC employee in February 1997, covering UFC 12: Judgement Day. However, this occasion actually predates his career as a colour commentator. Instead, he worked the backstage and post-fight circuit that fateful evening at the Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama.
Rogan’s first stint as a commentator didn’t occur until five years later for UFC 37.5. On The Joe Rogan Experience, he recounted the moment UFC President Dana White convinced him it was worth stepping up and giving a crack, forever changing the trajectory of his career.
“[Dana White] was like, ‘Do you want to do commentary?’ and I was like, ‘I don’t want to do commentary, man. I’m here to get drunk and watch people kick the shit out of each other, I’m not here to work.’“
He added: “And he talked me into it for one show, UFC 37 and a half, it was a show that was on one of those Fox Sports networks… I did that and the rest is history.”
As previously mentioned, Joe Rogan was not paid for his first 12 UFC events. Now, after over 25 years of service, reports indicate his financial compensation sits at around US$50,000 (AU$75,000) for each gig – in addition to the second-best seats in the house after the referees.
But considering his US$200 million (AU$300 million) plus net worth which is bolstered by an insanely lucrative Spotify deal, Rogan doesn’t exactly need the additional pocket change.
