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Mixed Martial Arts Commentator Joe Rogan Reflects on Missed Superfight Opportunity
Prominent MMA commentator Joe Rogan has expressed his foremost regret in the world of mixed martial arts: the collapse of negotiations between UFC president Dana White and individuals described as ‘gangster-type characters.’ These unsuccessful discussions prevented a highly anticipated superfight between heavyweight legends Fedor Emelianenko and Cain Velasquez.
Heavyweight Titans: Emelianenko vs. Velasquez
Fedor Emelianenko and Cain Velasquez are widely regarded as two of the most accomplished heavyweights in MMA history. Both athletes have secured world championships, Emelianenko in the now-defunct Japanese promotion PRIDE, and Velasquez in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Despite competing in separate organizations during their prime, Rogan, a UFC commentator for over two decades, disclosed that MMA enthusiasts were once on the verge of witnessing a spectacular clash between these two celebrated fighters.
The Regret: A Prime Matchup Denied
“My biggest regret in MMA is that we never saw Fedor fight in the UFC during his prime,” Rogan stated to UFC fighter Ilia Topuria on a recent episode of his podcast, ‘The Joe Rogan Experience.’
“If I could have one wish, just one fight in their prime, it would be Fedor versus Cain Velasquez. In their absolute prime. That fight would have been absolutely incredible,” he emphasized.
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Failed Negotiations and ‘Dangerous’ Entourage
Rogan further explained that Dana White engaged in discussions with Emelianenko’s representatives to potentially bring the Russian fighter to the UFC to face Velasquez. However, negotiations faltered due to the demands and intimidating nature of Emelianenko’s management team.
Veteran UFC commentator Joe Rogan revealed his biggest regret within the MMA landscape.
Rogan expressed disappointment that a fight between Fedor Emelianenko (left) and Cain Velasquez (right) never materialized.
He detailed how Dana White (left) faced challenging conversations with Fedor’s ‘gangster-type’ associates.
“I need to choose my words carefully here,” Rogan cautioned. “Fedor was managed by some Russian individuals who were very tough, let’s say. ‘Gangster-type characters,’ he reiterated. “They had multiple negotiation attempts with the UFC, but their demands were extremely unreasonable.”
“They sought a share of the promotion itself; they wanted ownership stakes in everything because they recognized that Fedor was their most valuable asset and they intended to capitalize on it as much as possible,” Rogan continued.
“The negotiations became very intense and highly confrontational. They escalated to a point where Dana had to increase his security. It became quite serious. These were dangerous individuals… It got really crazy.”
A Dream Fight That Vanished
“Cain Velasquez versus Fedor, both in their prime. That remains my biggest regret. A fight that fans were deprived of seeing,” Rogan concluded.
Emelianenko and Velasquez: Legacies Defined
Emelianenko, now 48, held the PRIDE Heavyweight Championship from 2003 until PRIDE FC’s closure in 2007. He is frequently cited as the greatest MMA fighter to have never competed in the UFC.
Velasquez, 42, twice claimed the UFC heavyweight title before retiring from professional fighting following a defeat by knockout to Francis Ngannou in 2019.
Recently, Velasquez received a five-year prison sentence along with four years of supervised probation following an incident in 2022 involving a car chase and shooting at a man accused of sexual abuse against his young son.