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UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has the biggest podcast in the world, but don’t expect to see Tony Ferguson on it any time soon.
During a May 16 interview with Submission Radio, “El Cucuy” said he told Rogan “no” when asked to appear on “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Ferguson also said that Rogan and fellow color commentator Daniel Cormier “don’t mind bagging on” him while he’s competing inside the Octagon.
“I always give props to Jon Anik because he would always kind of speak up for me but [Cormier and Rogan] don’t mind bagging on me. … I’m the only person that told Joe ‘no’ for his podcast,” Ferguson said, via Sportskeeda.com.
“I have my reasons for it, but I got a lotta respect for Joe and what he has done for the sport and for himself. But, you know, I’m not best friends with him. I don’t gotta be best friends with him. Same thing with Cormier.”
Ferguson Blasted Rogan’s Commentary Before His UFC 274 Fight With Michael Chandler
Ferguson is coming off a vicious KO loss to Michael Chandler at UFC 274 on May 7. Prior to the fight, Ferguson shared his qualms with the media about Rogan and Cormier’s commentary.
Specifically, Ferguson took issue with how the two commentated on his UFC 256 fight against Charles Oliveira in December 2020. El Cucuy lost the bout via unanimous decision.
El Cucuy said the commentators gave an unfair assessment of the fight, leading Ferguson to say that they’re “talking like they don’t know what the f*** they’re talking about.”
“When Joe Rogan was talking, it looked like I didn’t know what the hell I was doing yet I was more active on the bottom than Dustin Poirier [against Charles Oliveira] and I didn’t hear one word talking about how bad his jiu-jitsu was…,” Ferguson said, via Sportskeeda.com. “The commentators are talking like they don’t know what the f*** they’re talking about, and they’re making guys like me sound like I’m an idiot for one, and two, that I’m out there [and] I don’t know what the f*** I’m doing.”
Ferguson Brought Up Rogan’s Podcast During Another Interview This Week
On Ariel Helwani’s “The MMA Hour,” this week, Ferguson mentioned “The Joe Rogan Experience” again.
El Cucuy didn’t appear on video for the interview, to which Helwani said, “Do you know what I love about you, Tony? You’re the last guy left on the planet who won’t do Zoom. You just won’t do it.”
“No, man,” Ferguson answered. “It’s the same thing with [the] Joe Rogan interview, I just won’t do it.”
“Why not?” Helwani asked.
“It’s because I know my value, bro,” El Cucuy responded. “Somebody’s gonna have to pay me for that s***.”
“Respect,” Helwani followed up. “Wait, is that about the Zoom or the Joe Rogan interview?”
“About any of my video conferences or anything like that,” Ferguson continued. “I just have to know my value, just earn that s***. So, if I like somebody enough to be able to do that, I will.”
El Cucuy then told Helwani he could come to his academy and film Ferguson working out, then the fighter would host a press conference. Helwani expressed his gratitude for having Ferguson on his show, and Ferguson interjected by saying he was joking and that eventually they would do a video interview.