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via Imago

via Imago

UFC podcaster and commentator Joe Rogan‘s podcast, known for its variety of guests, has recently leaned into political topics. However, Rogan is now back to his comedy roots. In episode #2187, he was joined by American actor and comedian Adam Sandler, and they discussed their mutual friend Kevin James’s substance abuse situation, his training with former baseball player Mark DeGrant, and James’s bone-crushing grip strength.

Suddenly, Adam Sandler recalled his past interaction with the late comedian Chris Farley, known for his work on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Farley, who had a large physique similar to the character Kingpin from Daredevil, once hugged Sandler so tightly that it made his bones crack. Reminiscing about the situation, Sandler said, “You know who did that to me too? Farley. We were in the hallway on Saturday Night Live, out of nowhere, oh no, were at a hotel, and he came at me real fast, grabbed me, put me in some hold, and pulled hard. I felt every part of my body crack.”

In the bittersweet world of Hollywood, Adam Sandler and Chris Farley’s friendship began in the early 90s, when both were part of Saturday Night Live. They joined the show around the same time and left together in 1995. Over time, their friendship grew stronger, evident not only in real life but also on the silver screen, where they starred in movies like Coneheads, Airheads, and Billy Madison.

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Unfortunately, their plans to collaborate on another film never materialized due to Farley’s struggle with substance abuse, which tragically led to his untimely death in 1997 at the age of 33. Even though it has been many years since his death, Adam Sandler has not fully emerged from the shadow of his best friend’s loss. In 2019, Sandler paid tribute to Farley on the same SNL stage where they were both fired, performing the ‘Charles Farley song.”

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The friendship between Adam Sandler and Chris Farley is indeed emotional, but there’s also a notable and strong friendship in the UFC between Dana White and Joe Rogan. This bond has also been evident on several occasions, such as when UFC stakeholders wanted to fire Rogan, and White threatened to resign if they proceeded with the decision.

When Dana White threatens to quit to save Joe Rogan

UFC CEO Dana White is the one who brought Joe Rogan to the UFC. As he revealed early in his podcast, he first saw Rogan in a stand-up comedy video where Rogan expressed interest in MMA athletes. White decided to hire Rogan, who joined the UFC during a tough period for the organization. Rogan agreed to do commentary for free for up to 12–13 fight nights. Since then, Rogan has become a key part of the UFC.

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In 2022, Rogan faced backlash for making a racial slur on his podcast, which led to controversy. To avoid further backlash, the UFC decided to part ways with Rogan. However, Dana White intervened, acting as a shield between the promotion and the commentator. Reflecting on the situation on the Lex Fridman podcast, White said, “It’s a two-way street. It’s not a one-way street. I’m not one of these guys that is gonna roll over. It’s like going through COVID. I wasn’t laying [off] any of these people. Some of these people have been with me for 20 years.” White further assured that he wouldn’t let anything happen to his people while he was with the UFC.

With Joe Rogan back on the podcast and doing comedy bits with Adam Sandler, who would you like to see as the next guest on the Joe Rogan Experience (excluding Donald Trump)? Comment with your thoughts below.