Joe Rogan has been a staple in the UFC commentary and post-fight interviews since way back in UFC 12. In this article, we take a deeper look into his background and history as a stand-up comedian, TV presenter and, of course, the host of the world’s best-known podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.
Joe’s Early Life and Background
Rogan was born in Newark, New Jersey, on August 11, 1967. His mother worked as a florist, and his father was a police sergeant.
He has Italian and Irish ancestry. He was raised Catholic. Rogan’s parents divorced when he was five years old, and he was raised by his mother in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts. He graduated from Newton South High School in 1985. Rogan began training in martial arts early in his life, entering his first karate school at age 14. He started training in taekwondo at age 15, where he developed instance kicking power which we can see in multiple videos of him kicking either a punching bag or a power output measurer.
Love for Martial Arts & Training BJJ
Joe was quoted as saying, “Martial arts were the first thing that ever gave me hope that I wasn’t going to be a loser. So I really gravitated toward it.”
When he was only 19 years old, Joe Rogan won the US Open Taekwondo Championship. Anyone familiar with the martial arts industry knows that such accomplishments require immense hard work and dedication. At one time, a video of young Rogan circulated on the Internet. The clips show him flaunting his incredible fighting skills.
Joe Rogan started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) after watching Royce Gracie fight at UFC 2: No Way Out in 1994. After his first class, Joe was instantly hooked on BJJ and began training under Carlson Gracie at his school in Hollywood, California. Joe received his black belt in gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Jean Jacques Machado and is also a black belt under Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu (no-gi).
Joe retired from competition at age 21, as he began to suffer from frequent headaches and feared he might sustain worse injuries.
Stand Up & Acting Career
Joe Rogan’s comedic career began in 1988, and he has since become a prominent figure in the comedy world. His stand-up style, characterized by its raw energy and bold content, has influenced many upcoming comedians.
Rogan has performed at various comedy festivals and has released several comedy specials.
His role as Joe Garelli in the NBC comedy series ‘NewsRadio’ further cemented his place in the comedy world. Despite his numerous pursuits, Rogan continues to return to his love for stand-up, contributing to the vibrancy of the comedy scene.
Joe Joins the UFC as a Color Commentator
In 1997 Joe joined the UFC. However, he did not fight in the ring but was a backstage and post-fight interviewer. His first show took place at UFC 12: Judgement Day on February 7, 1997. You might not have known that Joe quit the UFC in 1999 due to his salary not being enough to cover his travel expenses to and from the UFC events. In 2001 however, Joe became good friends with the new UFC president Dana White, who offered him a job as a color commentator.
Joe is one of the most, if not the most, famous martial arts commentators worldwide. He might not be the best, but he sure is one of the most well-known. He won the MMA Personality of the Year seven times which is given out by the World MMA Awards.
As media exposure of the UFC grew, Rogan became more and more famous, which is why he accepted the position of host of the TV show “Fear Factor.” He hosted the show from 2001 to 2006. The position of Fear Factor host led to even more acting roles, which Joe gladly accepted.
Joe regularly hosts podcast episodes with famous UFC fighters and coaches such as GSP, Brendan Schaub (who is thankfully no longer a UFC fighter), and Joe Jones, where they discuss various topics related to the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), jiu-jitsu, diet, training regimes, and much more. Joe’s passion for BJJ has helped him become one of the most popular personalities in the MMA world today.
He is known for his in-depth and often controversial interviews with UFC fighters, coaches, and other personalities in the MMA world. Joe had plenty of stand-out moments during his UFC commentaries and post-fight interview, too many of them for us to name, but we are sure you are already familiar with plenty of them as a high percentage of the clips goes viral.
The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast
On Christmas Eve 2009, he started a podcast with his comedian friend Brian Redban, whose premise was simple: two pranksters goofing around on air. At the time, no one could have even thought that his podcast would have more than 200 million listeners a month ten years later.
Over the years, the guest list has included comedians, actors, scientists, politicians, and experts in various fields. Rogan’s ability to delve deep into complex topics and present them in an accessible way to his audience has been a key factor in the podcast’s success.
In 2020, Rogan signed an exclusive deal with Spotify, demonstrating his podcast’s huge impact and reach.
Personal Life & Views
Joe Rogan is married to Jessica Ditzel, a former model and TV producer. The couple has two daughters. Rogan is known to be private about his personal life, but he occasionally shares glimpses of his family life on social media. The family currently resides in Austin, Texas, where Rogan moved his podcast studio in 2020.
Rogan is an outspoken critic of vaccinations and has been critical of the United States government. He has also been critical of political correctness, social justice warriors, and identity politics. Rogan is a libertarian and supports same-sex marriage, gun rights, and the legalization of cannabis.
Rogan is a fan of stand-up comedy and has cited Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, Roseanne Barr, and George Carlin as his influences. Rogan is also a fan of heavy metal music and has cited Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, and Megadeth as his favorite bands. In 2020, he endorsed Bernie Sanders for President.
Joe Rogan currently resides in Austin, Texas. Joe Rogan has an official net worth of $120 million as of 2022; however, that number is probably much higher.
Health and Fitness Regime
Joe Rogan is an avid fitness enthusiast known for his dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He regularly shares his workouts on social media, often involving weight training, martial arts, and yoga.
Rogan is also a proponent of healthy eating. He follows a modified ketogenic diet, often consuming game meat that he hunts himself. Rogan’s commitment to fitness and health extends to his professional life, where he frequently invites health and fitness experts on his podcast to discuss a variety of related topics.
FAQs About Joe Rogan
Where was Joe Rogan Born?
Joe Rogan was born in Newark, New Jersey, on August 11, 1967.
How much money did Joe Rogan make from his podcast?
In 2020, Joe Rogan sold the exclusive rights to his podcast to Spotify for at least $100 million. Furthermore, he reportedly makes about $20 million yearly from The Joe Rogan Experience show.
Is Joe Rogan a black belt?
Yes, Joe Rogan is a black belt in martial arts. He has black belts in Taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He received his gi black belt in BJJ from Jean Jacques Machado and his no-gi black belt in BJJ from Eddie Bravo. He is also a black belt in Taekwondo.
