UFC 312 is shaping up to be a major event for the Dana White-led promotion, with Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland set to compete for the middleweight title in a much-anticipated rematch. On the other hand, Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez will also face off in a highly awaited strawweight title bout. The fight card is further loaded with more elite competitors from around the world and guarantees nonstop action. However, while fight fans are excited about the UFC fight card, Joe Rogan’s latest Fight Companion lineup announcement has led to major criticism online.

The UFC commentator took to his Instagram to unveil the guest list for the Fight Companion. The fan-favorite show will air live during the main show on his PowerfulJRE YouTube channel. Joe Rogan revealed that Matt Serra, Brendan Schaub, and Bryan Callen will be joining him, although Joey Diaz, who was originally scheduled to be on the panel. However, the panelist had to withdraw due to illness.

Joe Rogan wrote in the caption of the post he shared, “We will be doing a #FightCompanion for this Saturday’s @ufc #UFC312 with @mattserrabjj joining @brendanschaub @bryancallen and me. All live during the main PPV card on the PowerfulJRE @youtube channel. Joey Diaz was supposed to join us, but he got a bad case of the flu and was advised not to fly for a couple of months. We’ll get him back on in the future! I’m pumped for these fights!!”

While Joe Rogan told supporters that Diaz would return in the future, many still expressed their disappointment. After all, ‘Uncle Joey’, as he is lovingly called, has become one of the biggest fan favorites on the panel. So, while many criticized the lineup for missing the main man, others had issues with former fighter-turned-standup comedian Brendan Schaub. But why? Let’s find out!

Fans rally against Joe Rogan’s decision to bring Brendan Schaub

For many fans, Fight Companion is more than just breaking down fights; it’s about entertainment, humor, and the raw energy that someone like Joey Diaz brings to the table. After all, no one listens to Joe Rogan’s podcast, expecting him and his guests to be dull and serious. As a result, Joey Diaz’s absence created a significant void, and fans quickly expressed their dissatisfaction, emphasizing that they would have preferred Diaz over Schaub.

Taking to the comment section of the Instagram post, the fans shared, “I thought Uncle Joey was in this one,” “Damn, we lose Joey Diaz and get Shaub instead. Worst trade ever,” “Trade Schaub for Uncle Joey, ffs,” and “Remove Schaub for Joey permanently!” But while we understand why they love Uncle Joey, why are the fans rallying against Brendan Schaub? What made the former fighter the most hated panelist on the show?

Well, fans took aim at Schaub because many of Joe Rogan’s followers feel that the standup comedian adds little to the discussion and simply echoes whatever the UFC commentator says. As a result, the 41-year-old’s presence on Fight Companion has been a divisive topic, and this time was no different. The fans wrote in the comments, “Brendan has no purpose other than repeating what Joe says” and “Brendan really adds nothing of value and just agrees with what Rogan says.”

Fans’ frustration quickly turned into suggestions, with many recommending other guests they’d like to see on Fight Companion. Some demanded the return of Bravo or the aforementioned Joey Diaz, while others took a humorous jibe at Brendan Schaub, claiming that even an inanimate object would be a better option than the former MMA fighter. Taking to the comments, the fans shared, “Trade Brendan for Bravo,” “Trade Brendan for anything,” and “Replace Schwab for a cardboard box.” But what do you think? Do you believe that Joe Rogan should replace Brendan Schaub? Let us know in the comments.