Author: Dan Hiergesell

Joe Rogan was originally expected to do his usual cageside work tomorrow night (Sat., Feb. 12, 2022) at UFC 271 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Toyota Center in Houston, Tex., but the veteran commentator has been removed from the broadcast team due to a “scheduling conflict.”

This is according to a recent report by TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter (shown below), who confirmed the news with a UFC official on Friday. Earlier this week, MMA Fighting received confirmation that Rogan would be part of UFC 271’s broadcast team so the switch is a bit of a last-second shock.

It should be noted that Rogan is still scheduled for his color commentary duties at UFC 272 this coming March.

Fight fans were confused earlier today when they didn’t see Rogan at UFC 271’s ceremonial weigh ins (replay HERE), but now we know why. Without Rogan at the helm for this weekend’s PPV card the broadcast team will consist of Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier, and Michael Bisping, who was seen catching his flight to Houston earlier today.

While we’ve seen scheduling conflicts get in the way of broadcast duties in the past, especially for someone as busy as Rogan, the timing of this news suggests UFC’s long-time color commentator may have been asked to keep a low profile amid ongoing issues outside of UFC. This would include Rogan’s recent comments about COVID-19 vaccinations and a viral video that shows him spewing racial slurs over years of podcast footage.

Despite the broadcast switch, UFC 271 will still go down as planned tomorrow night from “H-Town.” The main event will feature a middleweight rematch between current UFC champion Israel Adesanya and former titleholder Robert Whittaker. Heavyweight contenders Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa will square off in the co-main event.

What do you think, fight fans? Do you think Rogan really had a “scheduling conflict” or did UFC tell him to stay away?

Let us know in the comments below!

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 271 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

For more news and notes on UFC 271 be sure to visit our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated, revised, and finalized “Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2” fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

It all goes down tomorrow night (Sat., Feb. 12, 2022) at UFC 271 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Toyota Center in Houston, Tex., as reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defends his 185-pound strap in a long-awaited rematch with former titleholder Robert Whittaker. In co-main event action, Houston’s own Derrick Lewis will collide with red-hot heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa.

Before tomorrow night’s PPV showdown sets “H-Town” on fire all fighters stepped on the scale for UFC 271’s ceremonial weigh ins (replay HERE). Of course, the fighters officially weighed in early Friday, but the ceremonial production allowed for one final staredown before Saturday’s carnage unfolds.

The biggest attraction on the card will be the rematch between Adesanya and Whittaker. “Last Stylebender” defeated Whittaker by knockout in their first meeting back in 2019. The champion has defended the middleweight title three times since then as Whittaker has been clawing his way back to a rematch. Their final faceoff can be seen below:

The second biggest attraction will be the co-main event featuring “Black Beast” and “Bam Bam.” With Lewis being the all-time UFC knockout leader and Tuivasa winning four-straight fights by way of strikes this heavyweight affair should not disappoint. The heavyweight staredown can be checked out below:

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 271 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

For more news and notes on UFC 271 be sure to visit our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated, revised, and finalized “Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2” fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

Sean Strickland kept up his winning ways last night (Sat., Feb. 5, 2022) at UFC Vegas 47 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he outpointed middleweight contender Jack Hermansson in a main event showdown (highlights HERE).

In addition to the headliner, UFC Vegas 47 produced a laundry list of exciting fights and highlight-reel finishes. Check them out below and let us know which one was your favorite:

• Welterweight prospect Phil Rowe scored a massive finish over Jason Witt when the “Fresh Prince” captured a second-round TKO (see it HERE)
• Octagon newcomer Jailton Almeida made a huge light heavyweight splash when he stopped Danilo Marques via first-round TKO
• Chidi Njokuani proved he belongs inside of the Octagon after sparking middleweight veteran Marc-Andre Barriault with a 16-second knockout (highlights HERE)
• Julian Erosa edged out Steven Peterson with a unanimous decision in an early Fight of the Year candidate

• Bantamweight veteran John Castaneda scored the biggest win of his MMA career when he ended the red-hot Miles Johns with a third-round submission
• Undefeated welterweight prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov put the 170-pound division on notice with a blistering first-round wheel kick finish over Carlston Harris (watch HERE)
• Brendan Allen moved up to light heavyweight to put Sam Alvey out to pasture with a second-round submission

In order to sift through the action and see which fighters took home an extra $50,000, we take a closer look at the official UFC Vegas 47 bonus winners below:

• Fight of the Night: Julian Erosa vs. Steven Peterson (Erosa gets $100K because Peterson missed weight)
• Performance of the Night: Shavkat Rakhmonov
• Performance of the Night: Chidi Njokuani

For complete UFC Vegas 47 results and coverage click here.

Sean Strickland took his time to get his sixth-straight win earlier tonight (Sat., Feb. 5, 2022) at UFC Vegas 47 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the streaking middleweight contender outlasted Jack Hermansson with a surprising split-decision win (it should have been unanimous).

Hermansson looked sharp in the early going with whipping calf kicks and some solid level changes. It kept Strickland on his toes, but Strickland eventually started to land his jab and took back some momentum. Hermansson seemed to loosen up a bit with his strikes in the second round, only to have Strickland defend most of the attacks and fire back with his own. Strickland even landed a last-second knockdown in the final moments of the frame.

Hermansson tried to pressure Strickland in the third with combinations over the top, kicks down low, and attacks to the body. However, Strickland’s footwork and evasive movements were truly on full display. He avoided almost every major blow and continued to pepper “Joker” with his jab. It wasn’t the most entertaining offensive plan by Strickland, but he played to his strengths and it was working.

It was much of the same over the final two rounds as Strickland took his time like a surgeon and Hermansson tried to rush inside for wild punches and exchanges. Strickland could have done a little more to try and put “Joker” away, but he won a main event so it’s hard to hate on that.

Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC Vegas 47 results and coverage click here.

As soon as UFC Vegas 47 wraps up tonight (Sat., Feb. 5, 2022) live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, fight fans can check out the live post-fight press conference video above for all the best reaction and official bonus winners.

On a night that features a main event clash between middleweight contenders Jack Hermansson and Sean Strickland, a co-headliner pitting rising youngster Nick Maximov against the hard-hitting Punahele Soriano, and Octagon appearances by talented prospects Shavkat Rakhmonov, Tresean Gore, and Miles Johns, there will be a lot to discuss when the action winds down.

The post-fight presser is scheduled to go live at 10:15 p.m. ET. It will feature the biggest winners and losers from the card.

For complete UFC Vegas 47 results and coverage click here.

Shavkat Rakhmonov kept his undefeated MMA record in tact earlier tonight (Sat., Feb. 5, 2022) at UFC Vegas 47 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the welterweight prospect stopped Carlston Harris with a beautiful first-round knockout (spinning wheel kick and punches).

Rakhmonov looked dangerous from the opening bell. His cerebral approach on the feet allowed him to lure Harris into range and land some crisp punches to back his opponent up. It looked like Harris was going to make it out of the first round to regroup on the stool, but Rakhmonov launched a spinning wheel kick that caught Harris and knocked him to the ground. Rakhmonov followed up with stinging punches from the top which put Harris out for the count.

Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

Rakhmonov, 27, is now 15-0 (3-0 UFC) with 15 finishes. The guy seems absolutely unstoppable right now, but with fellow undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev lurking around the welterweight division Rakhmonov hasn’t gotten the credit he deserves. Assuming “Nomad” gets a shot at the division’s top 15 his next time around he’ll have his opportunity to prove he’s the real deal, again.

For complete UFC Vegas 47 results and coverage click here.