Are Joe Rogan & Dana White Related? Why Many Believe They’re Connected Beyond the UFC

The noted UFC color commentator, Joe Rogan, is currently one of the oldest employees of the organization. The ’55-year-old’ had been in the UFC even before the current UFC boss, Dana White, planned to take it over. However, Rogan’s tenure in the pre-Dana White UFC lasted only for a year and a half. But, as soon as White gained power, he immediately called Rogan back into the company. ‘The UFC boss’ also handed him a number of added responsibilities this time compared to his previous tenure.

Today, even after two decades of Rogan’s second run in the company, there seems to be no one who can replace ‘the Podcaster’. Also, the UFC boss’s decision of getting Rogan back to work right after gaining power may compel some fans to think about whether these two have some personal connection or not. Well, let’s dive into this issue today, for some more clarity about this coveted Dana White-Joe Rogan relationship.

Joe Rogan and Dana White have stood side by side through the UFC’s biggest moments. From sold-out arenas to shocking knockouts, they’ve shaped how fans experience the sport. But as the years rolled on, a curious question started to pop up. Are they just business partners, or are they actually related?

The confusion isn’t surprising. Both men are bald, loud, and larger than life. They’ve spent two decades working together, often praising each other in ways that sound more like family than colleagues. But the truth about their connection is simpler and perhaps even more interesting!

Is Dana White related to Joe Rogan?

Apart from having comparable appearances, Rogan’s extensive tenure in the UFC has triggered this question multiple times. But the ‘UFC supremo’ and ‘the seasoned comedian’ don’t share any kinship. However, it can be said that the pair have been great friends for almost a couple of decades now.

Both Rogan and White have been vocal about their amicable relationship multiple times. The ‘former Fear Factor host’ has also invited his dear friend White on his noted podcast, ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’. White became a guest of Rogan on episode #327 of  ‘JRE’ that was broadcast on 20 February 2013.

While on another episode of ‘JRE’, Rogan gave out his thoughts about the ’53-year-old’ White, stating, “If you looked at him you’d never know he’s rich as s**t, He’s as normal as they come. He’s just a regular dude. If you hung out with him, you’d love him. He’s a great guy. He’s great”.

The UFC boss has also lauded ‘the noted podcaster’ multiple times. Once, on the ‘Jake Asman Show’, White revealed his brotherly bond with Rogan. He said, “We have a great relationship. Obviously the UFC has blown up and grown since we started together but we couldn’t have a better relationship. He does his thing and he kills it for us. And I think he’s the best ever.”

Reportedly, Joe Rogan’s UFC contract also includes a clause that will allow him to leave the UFC without any other questions once the supremo, Dana White has stepped down from his position. Hence, a lot of fans would agree that although these two don’t share any kinship. Their relationship is nothing short of what siblings have. So, how did they first meet?

When Did Joe Rogan and Dana White meet?

The exact answer to this cannot be given, since neither of the two has talked about their first meetup to date. So, it’s assumptions only that we can make.

However, there is one story we do know, so let’s rewind to 2001. Dana White and the Fertitta brothers had just bought the UFC for $2 million. The promotion was crumbling, and White’s job was to rebuild it from scratch.

In the process, he stumbled across old footage of Joe Rogan. At the time, Rogan was known for hosting Fear Factor and for his sharp wit as a comedian. White recalled on the Games with Names podcast, “I knew Joe Rogan from Fear Factor because I would watch on TV. Joe Rogan was talking about how badass UFC fighters were and what they would really do to these karate guys that were in movies and s*** like that. I was like, ‘This guy knows what he’s talking about. He’s smart, he’s funny, he’s articulate.’”

Rogan had already worked as a backstage interviewer for the UFC before White’s foray into the promotion, but he wasn’t aware of it at the time. 

Without wasting time, White reached out. Rogan agreed to join the UFC broadcast team as a commentator. But here’s the kicker, as the UFC boss further confessed, “Joe Rogan did the first 12 or 13 shows for free. He said, ‘F*** yeah, I’ll come there and do it and sit in the best seats in the house,’ and everything else.” That decision would launch one of the most enduring partnerships in combat sports.

Joe Rogan & Dana White’s friendship

Only UFC statistics can detail the impact of this brotherly relationship between the two on the company. Rogan started off his second tenure in the promotion right after White came into the office. The two have seen the organization grow from a $2M one to an estimated $14B company currently. 

Over the years, their friendship has only deepened. White explained on the Lex Fridman Podcast, “Anybody who is with me has been with me, knows: when you’re with me, you’re with me. It’s a two-way street, it’s not a one-way street. I’m not one of these guys that is just going to roll over… Joe knows what’s up. And again it’s a two-way street. Joe Rogan has been very loyal to me, and I am very loyal to Joe Rogan.”

That loyalty has never wavered. As mentioned earlier, even Rogan’s UFC contract reportedly has a clause allowing him to walk away if White ever steps down. In fact, in one interview, their friendship led to a hilarious moment that left the internet in stitches!

Viral moment when Dana White was mistaken for Joe Rogan

Of course, the similarities between the two have also caused some comic mix-ups. In 2024, White appeared on The Sage Steele Show’s inaugural episode. But during the interview, Steele slipped and asked him, “What is Joe Rogan’s dream?”

White’s reaction was priceless. “Did you just think I was Joe Rogan?!” he asked, laughing in disbelief. Steele quickly corrected herself, but White couldn’t resist adding, “She just called me f— Joe Rogan! I was bald before Joe was ever bald, okay?”

The clip went viral, showing how easily people confuse the two, even face-to-face. So, are Joe Rogan and Dana White related? Not by blood. But their story shows how friendship, loyalty, and shared battles can create a bond just as strong. They’ve seen the UFC grow from a $2 million gamble into a billion-dollar empire. White became the face of the promotion, while Rogan gave fans a voice they trusted on the mic.