Imago
Image Credits: Imago
Imago
Image Credits: Imago
According to Joe Rogan, LeBron James could have been the UFC heavyweight champion if he had chosen a different path in his athletic career. The 39-year-old NBA star is known for his remarkable athleticism and physical prowess which has seen him continue to perform at the highest level despite his age. During the 2022-23 NBA season, James averaged 28.9 points per game, highlighting the staggering physical gifts and skills he possesses.
And so, speaking on a recent episode of the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) podcast, the UFC color commentator was left stunned at James’s physical transformation over the years and even proclaimed that he not just “looks like an MMA fighter” but could also be a legitimate contender for the UFC heavyweight title!
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Joe Rogan believes LeBron James could have held the same UFC title as Jon Jones
During the JRE episode no.2128 with comedian Joey Diaz, the conversation touched upon the world of the NBA and arguably its biggest star, LeBron James. When Diaz mentioned that James has been reported to spend vast amounts of money on his recovery and health, Rogan exclaimed, “ Well you have to, he’s at the very top of his game and he’s worth a billion dollars, you know.”
The podcast host then stated, “I mean, and he looks like a superhero, I mean LeBron looks like a superhero. You look at him you’re like good lord.” This prompted him to ask Jamie, the podcast’s producer and resident Google expert to pull up some pictures of James’s physique.
Jamie then stated, “He’s also slimmed down from where he was back when he was younger like his first 5 years in the league, they argued he could be up to 300 lbs so this is him now, he’s probably close to like 260?”
It’s interesting to note that the UFC’s heavyweight division has a weight limit of 265 lbs, highlighting the fact that James would fit perfectly in the division, and may have even been a rival for current undisputed heavyweight champion, Jon Jones.
As such, Rogan stated, “So yeah, you see that photo in the gym, he’s different, still shredded. Looks like an MMA fighter, he looks like he could be like a UFC heavyweight champion. He’s shredded.” These comments came after Rogan’s earlier discussion in the episode about NBA player drug testing, prompted by Chael Sonnen’s allegations against James. Sonnen’s claims, made on the ‘Flagrant’ podcast in 2023, had added fuel to the debate about James’s physical capabilities and performance.
Nevertheless, this wasn’t the first time Rogan has spoken about LeBron James’s potential in MMA as he had made a bold claim about his chances inside the Octagon in the past!
Rogan proclaimed MMA fighters “lucky” because LeBron James chose basketball
During a past podcast conversation with Bryan Callen from 2018, Joe Rogan outlined what would happen if LeBron James chose to pick up MMA gloves instead of a basketball! He had stated, “A guy like that, if he was fighting, everybody would be f***ed! They are lucky, they are lucky there’s that much money in basketball and LeBron James got into it.”
The podcast host also anticipated MMA fans not agreeing with his claims as he felt the fandom doesn’t understand how different elite athletes are from ‘average’ human beings. He revealed, “Listen to me. Save it. That guy’s going to beat your f***ing a**, he’s a winner. There’s a certain level of winners that can just do whatever they want.”
In conclusion, Rogan’s admiration for James’s physical transformation and athleticism over the years underscores the NBA star’s remarkable abilities and highlights the fact that LeBron James is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete who could have possibly dominated in any sport he set his mind to!
What do you think about the prospect of LeBron James inside the Octagon? Do you think he would have been able to capture the UFC heavyweight title? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Written by
Edited by
Joyita Das