There is very little discussion when it comes to the question of who is mixed martial arts best and most experienced color commentator. That is an honor that solely belongs to the UFC’s Joe Rogan.
With his martial arts background and knowledge along with his ability to adequately describe incredibly technical techniques, positions, and transitions in such a manner that those with no prior knowledge of the sport understand what is happening, it is not hard to make the statement that Joe Rogan is hands down one of the best color commentators the world of sports has ever seen.
But alas, even Mr. Rogan has his moments and when those mishaps and miscues occur it is normally followed by hilarity. In the list below we will look at five of Joe Rogan’s worst mishaps and/or miscues.
5) The Brock Lesnar Fascination
There is no doubt that Joe Rogan takes to some athletes more than others but there is one fighter that Rogan is simply enamored by: Brock Lesnar. Where this fascination came from is anyone’s guess but Rogan has described him on air as, a freak of a man, the high end of the genetic spectrum, that he believed was, a direct descendant from ancient, giant warriors.
Rogan’s fascination with Lesnar’s physique led to him getting a little over-excited as the superstar weighed in for UFC 141.
4) Joe Rogan Questioning Jose Aldo’s Physique
It is interesting to remember that there are conversations that not only go on off-air or when the cameras aren’t rolling or the microphones aren’t on but there are also continuing dialogue between the commentators and the production team. During the fighter introductions to Jose Aldo’s blockbuster title fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 194 last year, Joe Rogan mistakenly thought he was off-air as he began to question the champion’s physique.
Looks how smooth his body looks, Rogan told a UFC producer, under the assumption that it was a private conversation.
Yeah, he looks good, huh, Joe? The producer replied.
No, he looks soft, Rogan responded.
He does?
Yeah, he looks soft, Rogan confirmed, before appearing to hint at his suspicions that the Brazilian star had used PED’s in the past. He looks way different, but it could be that he’s done a lot of cardio. I mean, I don’t want to jump to conclusions.
Aldo looks nervous as f*ck too, Rogan continued before the feed was cut.
After Rogan found out that this was not in fact a private conversation he clarified his comments on social media and made a public apology to Aldo as well as his coach Andre Pederneiras.
3) Rogan Calls Out Mike Goldberg’s Blooper
Without a doubt, if there were a commentary blooper award the perpetual winner would be Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan is never afraid to call him out, no matter how inappropriate, on the air as was the case in the following exchange between rounds.
Mike Goldberg: You can hear the corner speaking Portuguese!
Joe Rogan: Uh, that’s Japanese, brother
Mike Goldberg: I should have known that.
Joe Rogan: You’re the one married to a Japanese chick.
Mike Goldberg: That is correct.
2) Rogan vs. Mike Goldberg’s Feet Warmers
As we’ve stated before, some of the best Joe Rogan sound bites occur when he mistakenly thinks the microphone is off and this is exactly what happened at ‘UFC Fight for the Troops 2’ back in 2011. While waiting for the decision of a fight to be announced, Rogan found out that Mike Goldberg was wearing feet warmers and that wasn’t something that he was going to just going let go without making fun of him…much to the delight of the fans who were listening in that he didn’t think could hear him.
You got feet warmers? Rogan asked Goldberg in disbelief.
This motherf*cker I’m working with has got feet warmers. Are you sh*tting me? We’re at a fight. We’re at a cage fight on a military base, and this a*shole has feet warmers.
(AUDIO ONLY – CAUTION: STRONG LANGUAGE)
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1) X-Rated Terminology
It isn’t hard to see how in the midst of calling a professional cage fight, with the fans, the fighters, the aura that oftentimes accompanies a big UFC production, one can easily get carried away and forget that they are being broadcasted throughout the airwaves for people all over the world to hear and there is a level of professionalism that must be maintained. There are a number of occasions when Rogan has got carried away and dropped X-rated terminology into his commentary.
For instance, there’s the time that Rogan got a little overly creative when he declared that an enormous cut above Marvin Eastman’s right eye at UFC 43 looked like a goat’s vagina. And then there’s the occasion that he described a ‘Front choke’ in a manner that wasn’t exactly suitable for the live Spike TV broadcast at UFC Fight Night 13 in 2008.
Here’s the end (of the fight), Rogan said while commentating on a replay of Matt Hamill’s victory. He’s got the rape choke in place and just dropping left hands all over Tim Boetsch.
Rogan used the same risque ‘rape choke’ terminology again a few years later during Wanderlei Silva’s fight with Keith Jardine, but it’s not been heard since, with the commentator admitting on a podcast that UFC President Dana White had personally told him not to use it again.
