Joe Rogan has long served as a UFC color commentator and post-fight interviewer at some of the most high-profile events for the MMA organization. A notable Octagon interview conducted by him involved Conor McGregor at UFC 264.
That interview resulted in major backlash for Rogan, as it took place moments after the UFC icon had sustained a gruesome injury. Rogan later cleared the air about why he interviewed a badly hurt McGregor.
Joe Rogan Addressed the Unbelievable Reason Why He Interviewed Conor McGregor at UFC 264
The interview in question occurred right after McGregor had faced former interim UFC Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier in a trilogy showdown, which headlined UFC 264 in July 2021. Their grudge match ended anti-climactically when the popular Irishman suffered a mid-fight leg injury that incapacitated him, forcing officials to declare Poirier the winner via first-round TKO.
Rogan interviewed Poirier and later spoke to McGregor inside the Octagon. McGregor proceeded to sound off against Dustin and his wife, Jolie Poirier, in a contentious back and forth that seemed a bit out of bounds. Later, Rogan was condemned for interviewing McGregor who was presumably dealing with extreme pain from a broken leg.
On episode #1685 of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, later in July 2021, Rogan hosted fellow American comedian Shane Gillis. They alluded to McGregor’s otherworldly strength and courage that enabled him to partake in the Octagon interview despite being afflicted by a horrific injury.
Rogan then suggested that it was McGregor who called upon him, which is why he obliged and conducted the interview.
He stated, “Then people were like, ‘Why’d you interview him?’ He actually brought me over. He goes, ‘Come on over here, lad. Let’s have a podcast.’ He said, like, ‘Come on, Joe. Let’s have a f**king podcast.’ He, like, asked me to sit down next to him. I was like, ‘How am I gonna do this? I feel like I should just get something out of him.'”
Rogan added, “Even if you recognize the fact that he is emotionally charged up, like, then this is just him expressing himself while he was emotionally charged up.” He subsequently addressed an image of himself sitting alongside an injured McGregor inside the Octagon next to its fence.
Presently, Rogan continues to serve as a commentator and interviewer for the UFC, in addition to operating his JRE podcast. On the other hand, McGregor hasn’t competed in any professional combat sports contest since the UFC 264 injury incident. “The Notorious” is believed to have recovered from the broken left tibia and fibula, and he was even booked to return in a welterweight bout against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024.
However, a toe injury ruled McGregor out of UFC 303. Furthermore, the MMA great has lately been working on his political career, aspiring to become the President of Ireland. He’s consistently maintained that he’d love to return to the Octagon someday, possibly at a stadium show.