UFC 308 commentary and broadcast team: Joe Rogan replaced cageside, Dustin Poirier returns as desk analyst
The UFC 308 commentary and broadcast team won't include veteran UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. Nevertheless, Dustin Poirier is expected to serve as an on-screen personality for the star-studded fight card.
UFC 308 will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., on Oct. 26, 2024. The event is set to be headlined by a highly-anticipated clash between reigning UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and former featherweight kingpin Max Holloway. Though Holloway is the current BMF champion, his BMF belt won't be at stake.
Joe Rogan has been a part of the UFC commentary team for well over two decades. The American comedian and podcast mogul has worked a relatively lighter schedule in recent years. Rogan commentates only at events that are held in North America, mainly in the U.S. He was notably absent for the UFC 297 pay-per-view that took place in Canada in Jan. 2024.
As reported by MMA Fighting, with Rogan not traveling overseas for UFC 308, former UFC lightweight Paul Felder will be the color commentator for the event. Felder will be accompanied by fellow color commentator, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-division UFC champion, Daniel Cormier. The play-by-play commentary duties will be carried out by Jon Anik.
Additionally, per MMA Junkie, the commentary team will be led by play-by-play commentator Jon Anik, with Paul Felder replacing Joe Rogan in the color commentary role. Daniel Cormier will also feature in a color commentary role.
John Gooden is set to be the roving reporter for the event, reporting additional information from time to time and conducting pre-fight and post-fight interviews with the fighters. Bruce Buffer, will serve as the octagon announcer for UFC 308.
The UFC 308 Weigh-In Show will be hosted by Dan Hellie. Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman will serve as a panelist, as will UFC Hall of Famers Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier.
Chael Sonnen, Din Thomas and ex-interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier will appear as desk analysts. Brendan Fitzgerald will host the desk analyst panel through the UFC 308 card and the post-show segment.
UFC 308 desk analyst Dustin Poirier's history with the event's headliner Max Holloway
Incidentally, Louisiana's Dustin Poirier, who will serve as a desk analyst for UFC 308, happens to share a long and storied rivalry with the card's headlining star Max Holloway. The Hawaiian MMA stalwart's UFC debut was a featherweight bout against Poirier at UFC 143 (Feb. 2012). 'The Diamond' stopped Holloway via first-round submission courtesy of a triangle-armbar in that fight.
In the ensuing years, Poirier moved up a weight class and cemented himself as one of the top-tier combatants in the UFC lightweight division. Meanwhile, Max Holloway became the interim UFC featherweight champion and then the undisputed UFC featherweight champion.
They clashed in a rematch, with the interim UFC lightweight title on the line, at UFC 236 (April 2019). Poirier bested Holloway via unanimous decision on the night, capturing the interim lightweight belt.
Presently, the 32-year-old Holloway is looking to reclaim the UFC featherweight title. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Poirier recently asserted that he's looking for two more fights before possibly retiring.