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Joe Rogan Shocks with His Surprising UFC GOAT Picks: No GSP!

Joe Rogan Shocks with His Surprising UFC GOAT Picks: No GSP! When it comes to the undisputed GOATs of MMA, Joe Rogan has three names in mind — and none…

When it comes to the undisputed GOATs of MMA, Joe Rogan has three names in mind — and none of them are Jon Jones or Georges St-Pierre.

The debate over who should be hailed as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time has been raging on for years. Recently, Dana White made his opinion abundantly clear by dubbing ‘Bones’ Jones the undisputed GOAT and getting straight-up argumentative with anyone who disagreed.

But according to the longtime UFC color commentator, Jones doesn’t even rank in the top three.

During an episode of his ever-popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, the former Fear Factor host shared who he sees topping the list, starting with the best middleweight champion of all time, Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva.

“You gotta look at them in this window of time,” Rogan said. “And sometimes it’s just a few years where they’re accomplishing things in a way that it’s extraordinary you go, ‘I’ve never seen anybody better’. Anderson Silva, when he was in his prime, he was operating at a different speed than [his opponents]. He was processing things with like a 2024 computer, and they were using a Windows ’95” (h/t GiveMeSport).

Up next for Rogan, and perhaps the most controversial pick, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“That’s just how good Khabib was (on his wins over Poirier & Gaethje),” Rogan continued. “He’s so good. It’s almost a tragedy that he never wants to fight again. He’ll go out, without a doubt, as one of the greatest to ever do it. If not the best ever, he’s definitely in the argument.”

The Eagle’ went 29-0 in his illustrious career and retired as the UFC lightweight world champion following a trio of successful title defenses against Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. However, some dispute Nurmagomedov’s status as one of MMA’s greats, noting his lack of notable opponents outside of the three names mentioned above.

Joe Rogan closes out his list with flyweight great demetrious Johnson

Last but certainly not least for Rogan was Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson. As the UFC’s first-ever flyweight titleholder, successfully defended his belt an incredible 11 times, securing the record for most consecutive title defenses in promotional history.

Johnson also holds the record for most submission wins in UFC title fights and was just the second fighter in UFC history to capture performance bonuses in all four categories — Fight, Knockout, Performance, and Submission.

“When he was in his prime, ‘Might Mouse’ was a motherf*cker to watch,” Rogan said. “He would do sh*t that no one could do. There’s not a champion alive that can do that [suplex] the way “Mighty Mouse” can do that. When [Johnson] fought [Henry] Cejudo the first time, it was a masterclass. I maintain that he is the finest expression of martial arts I have ever seen.”

Even after leaving the UFC, Johnson’s dominance continued under the ONE Championship banner. He went on to win the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix tournament before claiming the ONE flyweight championship.

He also competed in the promotion’s first-ever mixed-rules bout, scoring a second-round submission victory over Muay Thai icon Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

UFC Star Tracy Cortez Teases Major Upcoming Fight News After Recovering from Surgery

After undergoing surgery, Tracy Cortez is ready to get back inside the Octagon. Cortez was originally set to return…

After undergoing surgery, Tracy Cortez is ready to get back inside the Octagon.

Cortez was originally set to return for the UFC’s final event of 2024 in Tampa but ultimately pulled out of her bout with Miranda Maverick after citing health issues that would require her to undergo surgery. Catching up with her a couple of months later, Cortez revealed to Helen Yee that she’s not only been busy building herself back up in the gym but she’s also got a big fight announcement coming down the pipeline.

“You know, I got some big news coming soon,” Cortez revealed. “I got cleared a little almost two months after the surgery and I’ve been easing my way back into training. And I’m getting back into it so I’m really excited.”

Since signing with the UFC in 2019, the Phoenix native has competed six times inside the Octagon, going 5-1 in the process. She started her run with five straight wins over Vanessa Melo, Stephanie Egger, Justine Kish, Melissa Gatto, and Jasmine Jasudavicius.

UFC Star Tracy Cortez Teases Major Upcoming Fight News After Recovering from Surgery 7

Tracy Cortez looking to climb back into the win column in UFC return

Unfortunately, her hot streak came to a crashing halt when she was thrust into a short-notice headliner after two-time strawweight queen ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas in July. It was just her second career loss, the first coming in her pro MMA debut under the Invicta FC banner in 2018. Overall, Cortez is 11-2 with nine of her victories coming via unanimous decision.

Replacing Cortez at UFC Tampa was Jamey-Lyn Horth who stepped up to fight Miranda Maverick at Amalie Arena. Maverick outworked Horth to notch her fourth win in a row and 15th overall.

It’s unclear if the UFC will rebook Cortez vs. Maverick once again or if the promotion is moving on from the twice-booked fight.

UFC Star Tracy Cortez Teases Major Upcoming Fight News After Recovering from Surgery

After undergoing surgery, Tracy Cortez is ready to get back inside the Octagon. Cortez was originally set to return…

After undergoing surgery, Tracy Cortez is ready to get back inside the Octagon.

“You know, I got some big news coming soon,” Cortez revealed. “I got cleared a little almost two months after the surgery and I’ve been easing my way back into training. And I’m getting back into it so I’m really excited.”

Tracy Cortez looking to climb back into the win column in UFC return

Replacing Cortez at UFC Tampa was Jamey-Lyn Horth who stepped up to fight Miranda Maverick at Amalie Arena. Maverick outworked Horth to notch her fourth win in a row and 15th overall.

It’s unclear if the UFC will rebook Cortez vs. Maverick once again or if the promotion is moving on from the twice-booked fight.

Arman Tsarukyan Disagrees with UFC Official Rankings, Places Jon Jones at Number One Pound-For-Pound

Arman Tsarukyan thinks Jon Jones belongs at the top of the UFC P4P rankings. As it stands, ‘Bones’ is…

Arman Tsarukyan thinks Jon Jones belongs at the top of the UFC P4P rankings.

As it stands, ‘Bones’ is sitting in the No. 2 spot on the promotion’s pound-for-pound list, one spot behind reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Of course, not everyone agrees with that, including UFC CEO Dana White who has gone on record multiple times arguing in favor of Jones being listed as the undisputed GOAT of MMA.

During a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Tsarukyan revealed that he subscribes to the same belief as White, suggesting that ‘Bones’ should be the top-ranked fighter on the coveted list with Makhachev dropping down one spot.

“In my opinion, he’s number two,” Tsarukyan said. Number one is Jon Jones, for me personally. But for sure, in the 155-pound division, he’s the pound-for-pound best.”

Emanating from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the promotion will return to pay-per-view on Saturday, January 18 for UFC 311, headlined by a lightweight title tilt between Makhachev and Tsarukyan.

It will be Tsarukyan’s first time competing for UFC gold after amassing an impressive 9-2 record inside the Octagon, including noteworthy wins over Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira.

Arman Tsarukyan not concerned with potential p4P ranking

While a win over Makhachev will secure Tsarukyan his first UFC title, he doesn’t expect to become the promotion’s new No. 1 P4P fighter.

Nor does he care.

“No, I don’t care about that,” Tsarukyan said when asked about potentially occupying the top P4P ranking. “I just care about the title. Not the money, the hype, or the followers — just the title. That’s my goal. I wake up thinking about the title, and I go to sleep thinking about the title.”

Arman Tsarukyan Disagrees with UFC Official Rankings, Places Jon Jones at Number One Pound-For-Pound

Arman Tsarukyan thinks Jon Jones belongs at the top of the UFC P4P rankings. As it stands, ‘Bones’ is…

Arman Tsarukyan thinks Jon Jones belongs at the top of the UFC P4P rankings.

“In my opinion, he’s number two,” Tsarukyan said. Number one is Jon Jones, for me personally. But for sure, in the 155-pound division, he’s the pound-for-pound best.”

Emanating from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the promotion will return to pay-per-view on Saturday, January 18 for UFC 311, headlined by a lightweight title tilt between Makhachev and Tsarukyan.

It will be Tsarukyan’s first time competing for UFC gold after amassing an impressive 9-2 record inside the Octagon, including noteworthy wins over Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira.

Arman Tsarukyan not concerned with potential p4P ranking

While a win over Makhachev will secure Tsarukyan his first UFC title, he doesn’t expect to become the promotion’s new No. 1 P4P fighter.

Nor does he care.

“No, I don’t care about that,” Tsarukyan said when asked about potentially occupying the top P4P ranking. “I just care about the title. Not the money, the hype, or the followers — just the title. That’s my goal. I wake up thinking about the title, and I go to sleep thinking about the title.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Gameplans Go Out the Window With a Punch, Explains Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan subscribes to the popular Mike Tyson quote, ‘Everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the…

Arman Tsarukyan subscribes to the popular Mike Tyson quote, ‘Everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the mouth.’ Especially when it comes to UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.

On January 18, Tsarukyan will put that theory to a test, though it won’t come against Nurmagomedov. Instead, it’ll be against the Hall of Famer’s protege, Islam Makhachev, who just happens to be the promotion’s reigning lightweight world champion. Tsarukyan will challenge the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ for the 155-pound crown when the UFC heads to the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles for the first pay-per-view event of 2025, UFC 311.

Nurmagomedov is expected to be in Makhachev’s corner that night and will likely go into fight night with a well-thought-out game plan when Makhachev seeks his fourth successful defense of the lightweight strap.

Undoubtedly helping matters will be the fact that Makhachev already holds a victory over Tsarukyan under the UFC banner, besting the Armenian at UFC on ESPN+ 7 in April 2019.

Arman Tsarukyan knows how to disrupt makhachev’s game plan

Of course, Tsarukyan thinks that successfully throwing Makhachev off his game will come down to one not-so-simple task — hit the man really, really, hard.

“I think game plans can go out the window when you get hit with a hard punch,” Tsarukyan said in an interview with ESPN MMA. “If I hurt him really badly, he’ll forget about his game plan. It’s the same for me. In my last fight, Oliveira choked me, and after that moment, I forgot my game plan completely. That’s why I have to hurt him very badly in the first round. Then it won’t matter what game plan they have.”

Tsarukyan certainly has a knack for knocking his opponents out. In his nine career wins under the UFC banner, he’s scored highlight-reel KOs against Christos Giagos, Joel Alvarez, Joaquim Silva, and Beneil Dariush.