The plot thickens around Joe Rogan’s absence from the UFC’s latest pay-per-view.
Earlier in the week it had been reported that Rogan would continue his role of color commentator at UFC 271,. However, on Friday it was reported that Michael Bisping would take over. In statement issued to MMA Fighting, the UFC said Rogan had a “scheduling conflict” that made him unavailable for Saturday’s event.
Rogan is a mainstay of UFC pay-per-views, and the timing of the news was suspicious given that he has recently come under fire after a video showing him using a racial slur on multiple occasions surfaced, as well as for using his popular podcast to provide a platform for guests with controversial stances on the COVID-19 pandemic.
UFC President Dana White was questioned about Rogan’s situation at UFC 271 after-fight presser. He refuted UFC’s official statement and said that Rogan was available for commentary.
“There’s no conflict of schedule,” White said. “Joe Rogan didn’t work tonight. Joe Rogan could have worked tonight .”
Pressed for details, White confirmed that it was Rogan’s choice not to commentate on Saturday.
“Yeah,” White said. “I don’t know what Joe Rogan had to do, you guys will have to ask Joe Rogan, but there was no ‘Joe couldn’t work’ or anything like that. It was true. That’s complete bullsh*t .”
Rogan’s absence was noted during the evening as a “Free Joe Rogan” chant broke out on more than one occasion at Toyota Center. It is expected that Rogan will resume his duties at UFC 272 in Las Vegas on March 5.
However, White could not say for sure when Rogan will return.
“Whenever he’s gonna work again, he’ll be working,” White said.
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