Certain things in the UFC seem like they’ll always be there: insane knockouts, training injuries, bad judging, failed drug tests and other stuff that’s defined the promotion over the years.
But Joe Rogan‘s presence at pre-fight weigh-ins has been one of the funniest.
From Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 136 to Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez at UFC 155 (and many more match-ups in the past), the promotion’s famous color commentator has gained some notoriety for his habit of hovering just off to the side in staredown pics—usually with a comically intense look on his own face.
YouTube member “zombie00713” couldn’t help but notice this either, so he put together a highlight reel containing some of Rogan‘s most hilarious staredown faces over the years. (H/T: Fightlinker)
As Rogan described on a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, it’s a magic moment that he can’t help but witness up-close:
I’m a huge fight fan, I’ve always been a fight fan my whole life. I don’t have to fake whether or not I’m excited about that. Because these guys—they’re going to circle around each other in the hotels and the lobbies, they might shake hands, they might pose for a picture. They might have to do some presses— together.
They’ve been thinking about nothing but each other for six, eight weeks. Even more… And then they’re standing there and they get off that scale, and they step towards each other, and hold their knuckles in front of each other. And they know in 24 hours… they’re going to throw down. All this s— is coming to an end tomorrow. That moment right there is so intense.
Never change, Joe.
Expect to see more of the Deathsquad frontman’s excited mean-mugging prior to the upcoming UFC 156 card this weekend, as 22 men step up to the scales on Friday, Feb. 1, to make weight for all their respective bouts.
In the main event, Brazilian star Jose Aldo will be headlining the card in Las Vegas as he defends his featherweight title against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. This will be Edgar’s debut at 145 pounds after posting two consecutive losses against current champion Benson Henderson.
There’s plenty more on-deck filling out the talent-heavy card, with Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira as the co-main event, preceded by Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio Silva in a heavyweight title eliminator. Jon Fitch also returns to face his greatest submission threat in Demian Maia, while flyweight title contenders Joseph Benavidez and Ian McCall will start off the pay-per-view on Feb. 2 this Saturday.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com