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via Imago

via Imago

Joe Rogan worked for the UFC for free when he started with the promotion back in 2001 in the Zuffa era. Already a successful comedian and host of the cult-hit ‘Fear Factor’, Rogan joined the promotion, which was losing money hand over fist at the time, offering his services for nothing more than the love of the sport.

This generosity and passion didn’t go unnoticed by Dana White who eventually took over the promotion, who is close personal friends and incredibly loyal to Rogan. Just how loyal he is to the commentator was highlighted in one of the UFC boss’s recent podcast appearances.

Dana White threatened to resign if Joe Rogan was ousted

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Dana White joined Lex Fridman on his eponymous podcast, where the host recalled once sitting with Joe Rogan during his 2022 ‘N-word’ controversy when there were widespread calls that the JRE podcast host should be fired from his commentary duties at the UFC34.

Fridman recounted hearing a call between Rogan and the UFC boss, with the latter promising Rogan that he would resign if the Texas resident were fired. The host praised White for his courageous stance and his loyalty to his friend.

White told Fridman that loyalty was one of the things he valued the most and pointed out that the UFC commentator has been very loyal to the company over the years, and helped it become the roaring success it is today.

Controversial conservative commentator Candace Owens, recently fired from ‘The Daily Wire’ allegedly over her recent stances on the conflict in the middle-east and other controversial positions, took to Twitter to praise White for standing with Rogan, calling the CEO “a real-life hero”.

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“Imagine being the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company and offering your resignation rather than allowing someone who works for you to get cancelled. @danawhite is a real-life hero. The future belongs to fighters,” she tweeted.

White feels Rogan has had an immeasurable impact on the UFC

Dana White pointed out that Joe Rogan, despite becoming the most popular podcaster in the world and already having made generational wealth off of his platform, still chooses to call the PPVs for the UFC, showing just how much he loved and was dedicated to the promotion. The Las Vegas resident also praised the commentator for his ‘immeasurable impact’ on the sport and the promotion.

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“The impact that Joe Rogan has had, and continues to have on the sport is immeasurable. He’s the biggest podcaster in the world and he is on the UFC Pay-Per-Views 14 times a year, and he’s always talking about the sport. It’s immeasurable what this guy has done for the company and for the sport,” White said.

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