Dana White shuts down Joe Rogan rumor

Dana White on Saturday shut down a rumor about Joe Rogan.

Rogan was not a part of ESPN’s UFC 271 pay-per-view broadcast despite originally being scheduled to do so. A report on Friday said that Rogan would not be a part of the broadcast due to a “scheduling conflict.”

White, the UFC boss, said after the fight card that the conflict talk was incorrect. He implied it was Rogan’s choice not to work.

“There’s no conflict of schedule. Joe Rogan didn’t work tonight. Joe Rogan could have worked tonight … I don’t know what Joe Rogan had to do, you guys will have to ask Joe Rogan. There was no ‘Joe couldn’t work tonight’ or anything like that. I know that came out, it’s total bulls—,” White said.

We characterized the situation as Rogan being pulled from the broadcast, but White is suggesting Rogan decided not to participate.

The 54-year-old UFC commentator and podcast host has been in headlines as the target of what he called a “political hit job.” Various groups have targeted him, his “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, and Spotify, in an apparent “cancellation” attempt. Spotify, which in 2020 paid $100 million to become the exclusive podcast home of Rogan’s show, has deleted some of Rogan’s show episodes and added disclaimers to other episodes in response to those who have targeted Rogan.

Whether it was Rogan, Spotify, ESPN, the UFC or someone else, it sure seems like someone decided it would be best for Rogan to skip the event.

Photo: Jul 9, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Joe Rogan hosts weigh ins for UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports