For many fans, it’s hard to imagine the UFC without Joe Rogan’s voice in the backdrop to some of the most iconic moments inside the Octagon. From his early days as a backstage and post-fight interviewer in the pre-Zuffa era to accepting a commentary role for free in 2002 because of his love for the sport, there’s no denying Rogan’s importance in the UFC’s growth and popularity. In his 22-year-long stint as a UFC commentator, accolades like multiple Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards for ‘Best Television’ announcer, underscore the UFC color commentator’s excellence.

And in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports Fancast, the iconic ‘Voice of the UFC’ Bruce Buffer revealed why Joe Rogan is so “special”. The veteran Octagon announcer with 289 numbered UFC events under his belt holds a unique perspective on Rogan’s brilliance with his long history with the company and shared an exclusive insight into what makes Rogan such an integral part of the UFC family, echoing sentiments of UFC CEO Dana White’s praise. The following is what he had to say when asked during the interview, “What makes Rogan special, do you think?”

Buffer: “What makes Rogan special, again I’ll get back to what I’ve been saying about all of us, is passion for the game. Right? And it shows. And also Rogan being a martial artist, a very high level martial artist himself, you know black belt in jiu jitsu, no-gi jiu jitsu, his background I think is taekwondo, kickboxing background, everything. You know, I have a large… I have a long martial arts background myself, you appreciate what we’re doing.

It’s his world, just like its my world, its his world and he loves it and his commentating, the honesty, the passion that comes through in his commentating, his natural excitement. You know, Joe is a very established person in business and in life with all he does and he still devotes his time to the UFC and he’s there. Joe Rogan and Jon Anik, you couldn’t ask for a better commentating team in the UFC, you couldn’t.”

As Bruce Buffer so aptly put it, Rogan’s passion for the game is evident in everything he does, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest commentators in the history of mixed martial arts. This proves why Dana White was adamant about securing his role on the UFC’s broadcast team at a time when everyone questioned what the “Fear Factor guy” had to do with mixed martial arts.  

Dana White shares the story of the “greatest decision” of his career

UFC CEO Dana White has never shied away from giving Joe Rogan his flowers for his contributions to making the UFC the MMA juggernaut it is today. In a recent appearance on the ‘In Search of Excellence’ podcast, the UFC boss shared the incredible story of how he discovered Joe Rogan’s love for the UFC and how he knew he’d found the missing piece of the puzzle!

He shared that in the early 2000s, after the Fertitta brothers acquired the UFC, White had to move his office to New York. This move required him to pack up and sort through numerous videotapes. During this tedious process, White found a tape featuring Joe Rogan on Keenen Ivory Wayans’ talk show. Rogan was discussing the UFC with great enthusiasm and insight, which immediately caught White’s attention.

You can explore and purchase Buffer’s ‘It’s Time’ fragrances here, and get a taste of his energy drink here.

White went on to state, “Most people would say, ‘What made you bring the Fear Factor guy in, and, and, and do all the s**t?’ I f***ing saw, I saw Joe Rogan speaking about the UFC and I was like, ‘That’s the f***ing guy I need on, on, on the broadcast.’ And I ended up reaching out to Joe, and Joe was one of the, one of the greatest decisions I ever made in my entire career.”

White’s decision to trust his instincts and bring Rogan on board has had a lasting impact on the UFC and together, Buffer’s and White’s stories highlight Rogan’s integral role in shaping the UFC’s identity, making his contributions invaluable to the sport’s history and future.

For more exclusive insights by Bruce Buffer, check out the EssentiallySports Fancast where you can also hear the story behind the origins of his now iconic catchphrase, “It’s Time!” and much more!