Joe Rogan says fighters who want to be considered the best in combat sports have to be in the UFC, regardless of what they accomplish elsewhere, drawing a clear line between the promotion and every competitor in the market.
Rogan made the comments on his social media, offering a blunt assessment of the promotional landscape.
UFC is the combat sports’ leader, and if you’re not in the UFC, I don’t care. You can go to the PFL and you can win that million dollars, but the reality is, part of what you’re doing is you’re trying to be the best, and if you’re going to be the best, you kind of have to be in the UFC.
The PFL has expanded its roster significantly and signed several high-profile names in recent years, while Most Valuable Promotions made waves with its first MMA card in May featuring Ronda Rousey, Francis Ngannou, and Nate Diaz. Bellator, now operating under the PFL banner following their merger, also houses a number of established names.
Rogan has long been an outspoken advocate for the UFC’s place at the top of combat sports and has previously argued that the promotion’s depth of competition at each weight class is unmatched globally.
The comments also come ahead of UFC 329 on July 11, where Rogan will call Conor McGregor’s return against Max Holloway.