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The First Time Joe Rogan Cried During a UFC Octagon Interview

Joe Rogan has long been a staple of the UFC as an on-screen personality, serving as a color commentator and Octagon interviewer for the MMA organization. The martial arts aficionado is known to share a deep bond with some fighters and often asserts his respect for anyone who dares to compete in MMA.

The American comedian and celebrity once shed light on the time he cried while conducting a live interview during a major UFC pay-per-view (PPV) event.

UFC Commentator Joe Rogan Spoke About the First Time He Cried During an Octagon Interview

On episode #1665 of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast in June 2021, Joe Rogan hosted evolutionary biologist Carole Hooven. One of the topics discussed was testosterone and its impact on various aspects of human life, including its connection with fighting.

On that note, Rogan made an allusion that fighting and combat sports are generally associated with testosterone and masculinity. In contrast, he cited former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas’ example as someone who’s feminine but tremendously successful at combat sports nonetheless.

The podcast mogul referenced Namajunas’ first encounter against Zhang Weili that transpired at UFC 261 in April 2021, adding that “Thug” Rose knocked Zhang out and reclaimed the 115-pound title.

Rogan admitted to having shed tears while speaking to Namajunas during her post-fight Octagon interview.

In the UFC 261 interview, Rogan had stated, “Rose, there’s some special moments in MMA, and I feel like I just witnessed a real one. You got me crying up here.” Namajunas responded, “I’m sorry, man.”

She then suggested that she didn’t intend to hurt Zhang in their pre-fight war of words in the media. Namajunas further underlined her respect for all cultures and alluded to her aim to build MMA academies worldwide to foster unity and solve global problems.

 

 

Reminiscing about the Namajunas interview, while speaking to Hooven in June 2021, Rogan further explained, “She [Rose Namajunas] is an intensely, like, sweet person. She’s super-emotional.” Addressing the interview’s footage, he highlighted a few elements at play — including the gravitas of her knockout win over an athletic specimen like Zhang.

He also indicated that “Thug” had kickboxing veteran and her longtime partner Pat Barry’s guidance in her corner. The MMA personality explained that Namajunas was in a trance-like state moments before the fight and put on a jaw-dropping performance.

Recalling that their post-fight conversation was the first time he ever cried during an interview, Rogan said, “That’s Pat Barry. That’s her boyfriend and her trainer. And he’s like, ‘Who’s the best?’ She’s like, ‘I’m the best.’ So they give her the title, and then I talk to her about it. And when I’m talking to her, she’s emotional, she’s crying. And I cried. I totally cried. This is the first time I ever cried during an interview, first time.”

In the ensuing years, Rogan has continued serving as a UFC color commentator. Meanwhile, Namajunas, who’s competed at flyweight since 2023, is currently booked to face fellow American 125-pound contender Miranda Maverick at UFC Atlanta on June 14, 2025.

 

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