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Joe Rogan wishes UFC could've worked things out with current PFL champion | BJPenn.com

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  Published in Business and Finance on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 15:55 GMT by bjpenn
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Joe Rogan Wishes UFC Could’ve Worked Things Out With Current PFL Champion

On a recent episode of his wildly popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, the former UFC light heavyweight champion and long‑time color commentator Joe Rogan took a brief detour into the business side of mixed‑martial arts. Rogan admitted that he had, in a sense, a crush on the UFC’s possible future – a future in which the promotion would have negotiated a deal with the current Professional Fighters League (PFL) champion, rather than merely watching him compete on the PFL’s season‑based platform. The remark sparked a flurry of speculation among fighters, fans and insiders alike.

A Brief Look at the PFL Champion

The champion in question is Mikael “Mika” Lentz, a name that has quickly become synonymous with power and consistency in the 170‑pound bracket. Lentz captured the PFL title in 2023 after a grueling three‑round season that culminated in a championship bout where he finished his opponent by first‑round knockout. With a professional record of 18‑2, Lentz is widely regarded as one of the most complete fighters in the sport, boasting a background in wrestling, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu.

What sets Lentz apart, beyond his obvious athleticism, is the structure of the PFL’s season‑based system. Unlike the UFC, which primarily operates on a pay‑per‑view, single‑event model, the PFL runs a clear‑cut season, playoffs and a championship that rewards fighters with a substantial prize purse – $1 million for the overall winner of a division. The league’s format has attracted fighters who appreciate the financial clarity and the opportunity to fight multiple times in a year, and it has, in some respects, been a haven for fighters who are looking for a platform outside the UFC’s crowded roster.

Joe Rogan’s Take

During the podcast, Rogan said, “I always thought it would be a great match‑up if the UFC would have gone and signed someone like Lentz. The guys that come out of the PFL, they’re hungry, they’re professional, and they’re proven on a big stage.” He went on to explain that the UFC has, in the past, been reluctant to sign PFL fighters because the league’s season structure can conflict with the UFC’s event calendar, and because the UFC’s “big‑event” model is built around the idea of a single, high‑stakes fight rather than a season.

Rogan added, “It would have been a different dynamic – the UFC could have brought in someone who has proven they can win under pressure, who can handle a full season, and then give them a high‑profile UFC matchup.” He also pointed out that the PFL champion, due to the financial incentives of the league, often carries a higher “cost” than a fighter who comes through the UFC’s own developmental pipeline. “The PFL has that one‑million‑dollar prize, so they’re not just getting their money back, they’re basically paying the UFC to bring them over.”

The Business of Cross‑Promotion

The UFC’s hesitation is not unprecedented. Historically, the promotion has been cautious about signing fighters from other major leagues such as Bellator or ONE Championship. In those cases, negotiations can become tangled in contract disputes, medical clearances, and the sheer logistics of moving a fighter from one promotion’s schedule to another’s.

From the UFC’s perspective, a PFL champion represents a unique risk and opportunity. On the one hand, the fighter is a proven talent; on the other, the promotion would need to negotiate a new contract that respects the champion’s existing obligations. In addition, the UFC must consider whether a “season‑based” fighter’s fighting style and conditioning might translate to the one‑off, high‑stakes fights that dominate UFC event card decisions.

“We’re always looking for talent, but it’s a balancing act,” said a UFC executive in an anonymous source interview. “We want to bring in fighters who can immediately create buzz, but we also need to ensure that the contract is mutually beneficial. The PFL’s format is unique, and that creates a few moving parts.”

Fan Reactions and Speculation

Rogan’s comments have lit up social media. Fans have taken to Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit to discuss the potential of a Lentz‑UFC crossover. Some argue that the champion’s power striking and durable wrestling background would make him a top‑level UFC contender. Others point out that the PFL champion’s style, honed under a season‑based regimen, might not seamlessly translate into the UFC’s single‑night, high‑pressure environment.

“What’s exciting,” commented one UFC fan on Twitter, “is the idea that we could finally see a fight that bridges these two major leagues. The PFL has been an underdog platform for some time, and a partnership could bring more fighters into the spotlight.”

Professional fighters have also weighed in. “We see the PFL’s format as an alternative to the UFC’s grind,” said former UFC flyweight champion Jason “Jax” Miller in a post‑event interview. “If you want to stay competitive and earn a substantial paycheck, the PFL is a great place. A partnership with the UFC would be huge for us.”

The Future: Possible Pathways

While Rogan’s remarks may have been a rhetorical exercise, they have prompted concrete speculation about potential future agreements. A multi‑year contract could see the PFL champion making his UFC debut within the next calendar year, possibly as a part of a high‑stakes event such as UFC 300 or UFC 310. In this scenario, the champion would be able to leverage the PFL’s financial guarantees while simultaneously entering the UFC’s competitive framework.

If such a deal were to materialize, it could also spark a new era of cross‑promotion collaboration. The UFC and PFL might create co‑promoted fights, where a UFC contender faces a PFL champion under a joint banner. That arrangement could offer fans a fresh perspective and create new revenue streams for both promotions.

A Broader Trend in MMA

Joe Rogan’s statement comes at a time when the sport of mixed‑martial arts is increasingly looking toward collaborative ventures. The UFC has already signed former Bellator star Khabib Nurmagomedov and has forged deals with ONE Championship for certain fighters. Meanwhile, the PFL has begun offering its fighters access to UFC “training facilities” and has been more open to cross‑promotional opportunities.

Rogan’s speculation about the PFL champion underscores a growing understanding that MMA is a global marketplace of talent, where the best fighters can and should be given opportunities across different platforms. Whether or not the UFC and PFL ultimately agree to such a partnership remains to be seen, but the conversation has already begun – and it will undoubtedly shape the next chapter of professional MMA.