How did Joe Rogan become one of the voices of the UFC? The host of the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) podcast and UFC color commentator has worn many hats, be it that of an actor, a stand-up comedian, or a martial artist, throughout his career. Rogan first began working for the UFC in 1997. His role? A backstage and post-fight interviewer.

But he eventually had to quit as at the time the UFC wasn’t as lucrative as it is today. However, fate had other plans as he found himself behind the commentary table in 2002 once Zuffa and Dana White took over the promotion. However, the full story is even more interesting, and who better to hear it from than Rogan’s iconic partner when calling the action for many years?

Mike Goldberg pulls back the curtain on Joe Rogan’s journey from ‘Fear Factor guy’ to voice of the UFC

In a recent appearance on the ‘Jaxxon Podcast’ Mike Goldberg, with his signature enthusiasm, recalled his early days at the UFC in a conversation that surprised even UFC veteran, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. When Rampage asked if Goldberg was there before Rogan, the veteran commentator confirmed it, taking a trip down memory lane.

Goldberg revealed, “So, this is funny, Joe, if you go back and look on like (UFC) 15 and 16 and I started on 17, Joe had hair first and foremost. And he was the guy backstage, the superfan, ‘I’m Joe Rogan and I’ll be here all night interviewing the fighters’ and so he wasn’t like… it was Bruce Beck and the late great Olympic medalist Jeff Blatnik, right.”

While newer fans may find it hard to imagine, Goldberg painted a vivid picture of a younger Joe Rogan, who at the time was still sporting a full head of hair and probably wasn’t getting confused for UFC boss Dana White! The former UFC commentator then shared, “But Joe comes in and he’s just a fan of the sport and he was the well, as my son said back then, when my son was little he was the ‘Fear Defactor guy’.”

But as it would turn out, Rogan was more than just a reality TV host—he was a genuine fan of the sport. After all, the UFC color commentator has been training in martial arts since he was a teenager and his passion for mixed martial arts is evident on the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) podcast and during his commentary duties.

Despite Rogan’s presence behind the scenes, Goldberg was officially at the commentary table first as he further stated, “I saw Joe doing this behind the scenes but then my first broadcast partner was Jeff Blatnik for a long time. So technically at the broadcast table, I did get there earlier then Joe.”

In those early days, it wasn’t easy to predict just how influential both Rogan and Goldberg would become in shaping UFC commentary. But after years of being the voice of the UFC, Mike Goldberg’s last event was UFC 207, ending a historic partnership with Joe Rogan. But what led to his departure, and how did he feel about it?

Goldberg reveals his perspective on the heartbreaking UFC departure

The UFC underwent a seismic shift in 2016 when Zuffa LLC sold the organization to WME-IMG. While the sale changed the landscape of mixed martial arts, one of the more immediate and emotional changes for fans was the departure of longtime commentator Mike Goldberg.

In his appearance on the ‘Jaxxon Podcast’ Goldberg revealed, “I didn’t want to leave. I was honored to go there but I didn’t want to leave [UFC].” According to him, Joe Rogan even lobbied Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta to keep Goldberg, arguing that their chemistry was irreplaceable. Despite the effort, the tides of change had already started shifting things within the UFC.

As such, an emotional Goldberg then stated, “Obviously, I was smashed. I was heartbroken. I helped build that product. It just became a time where I wanted to keep on the voyage and I’m glad I did because I saw the world in my days with the UFC.”

Goldberg’s departure from the UFC marked the end of an era, but he confessed that he holds no grudges towards the promotion or boss Dana White. The Octagon may no longer echo with his voice, but Mike Goldberg’s legacy is etched in UFC history forever.

What are some of your favorite calls from the legendary UFC commentator? And would you have liked to see him continue calling the action alongside Joe Rogan? Share your thoughts in the comments below!