On episode #2309 of “The Joe Rogan Experience” (JRE) podcast, comedian and actor Joey Diaz joined UFC commentator Joe Rogan for a wide-ranging conversation. At one point, the two discussed the declining number of UFC pay-per-view (PPV) sales, with Rogan sharing his thoughts as to why they might be dropping.
Rogan Shares His Thoughts on UFC PPV Sales
Rogan, who has worked with the UFC for more than two decades and is widely regarded as one of the promotion’s biggest advocates, offered his perspective on why pay-per-view numbers may be down during his recent podcast episode.
Rogan believes casual MMA fans aren’t buying pay-per-view events at the same rate and compared the UFC’s model to that of boxing.
“Well, I think in general the pay-per-view numbers are down as well because the casuals aren’t buying it as much,” Rogan said. “First of all, the UFC is not like boxing. A boxing pay-per-view is like, ‘Oh, Canelo’s fighting in four months,’ and then you gear up and buy the Canelo Alvarez pay-per-view.”
Rogan pointed out that hardcore boxing fans follow the sport religiously, tuning into fights across platforms like DAZN and ESPN+, but casual fans only buy major boxing events every few months. In contrast, the UFC’s much busier schedule creates a different dynamic.
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“If you’re a big boxing fan, you might buy one every couple of months. If you’re hardcore, you’re watching all of them — you’re on DAZN, you’re on ESPN Plus, watching every boxing match there is. But there aren’t a lot of pay-per-views,” Rogan said.
“The UFC, on the other hand, has a pay-per-view every month, and they have a fight every week.”
Rogan also noted that the UFC often offers great undercard fights that don’t require a PPV purchase, which can further lessen the need for fans to pay for the main event.
“So it’s like getting people to sell out 70 bucks for a card — it’s tough. Also, some of the great fights are on the undercard. Before the pay-per-view even starts, you already have three and a half hours of great fights you could watch for free.”
The longtime commentator added that by stacking the undercard with exciting matchups, the UFC tries to lure fans into buying the pay-per-view.
“Sometimes they try to lure you into buying the pay-per-view by putting some of the best fights on the undercard — guys whose names you might not even know,” Rogan said.
Rogan was most recently seen on the commentary team at UFC 314 on April 12, an event headlined by a vacant featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
It feels like a long time since I was excited about any UFC event. And there’s no way I’m paying like 80 bucks for a main card. Off to the high seas me matey.
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People aren’t buying because people don’t have the money to participate! When it takes every dime you make to live, everything nonessential gets cut!
Another theory is fans aren’t digging the now regular politicization of big pay-per-view events with Trump and the oligarchs playing main stage. Time to retire the band and get back to what people are over paying for – fights.
This
exactly, the only time I want to see trump during ufc events is if he’s getting drug into the ring and beaten at least within an inch of his life.
The price is 80+ tax + espn plus… for belal vs some other dude. What casual is paying for that?
You put it perfectly. They need off espn asap that’s the problem you need a subscription just to be able to buy a ppv. What casual has a espn+ subscription? Zero. Thank God their time on espn is almost over.