Joe Rogan Recalls Bizarre Attempt to Organize UFC Fight Between Kid Rock and Tommy Lee

The podcast host cracked up as he recounted the story of the two rock stars nearly squaring off in the Octagon.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:21pm

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An extreme close-up of shattered, glittering disco ball fragments captured in dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the glamour and drama of the celebrity feud between rock stars Kid Rock and Tommy Lee.The glitzy, high-stakes world of celebrity feuds and the appeal of celebrity combat sports collide in this abstract macro photograph.Long Beach Today

On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the host and his guests burst out laughing as they recounted the bizarre story of how Joe Rallo nearly organized a UFC fight between rock stars Kid Rock and Tommy Lee. According to Rallo, the tension between the two musicians stemmed from their shared connection to Pamela Anderson, and Lee's management team even reached out to Kid Rock's team to try to make the fight happen on pay-per-view. However, Kid Rock's team ultimately turned down the idea, fearing the potential damage to their tough-guy images if one of them lost.

Why it matters

The story highlights the sometimes-absurd world of celebrity feuds and the lengths people will go to try to capitalize on them. It also speaks to the enduring appeal of celebrity combat sports, even among aging rock stars trying to recapture their youthful bravado.

The details

According to Rallo, the feud between Kid Rock and Tommy Lee began over their shared connection to Pamela Anderson, who was married to Lee and dated Rock for a time. Lee allegedly reached out to Rock directly to get him to stop contacting Anderson after their breakup. This led to a back-and-forth between the two musicians, with Rallo eventually suggesting they settle it in a pay-per-view UFC fight. Lee's management team then reportedly reached out to Kid Rock's team to try to make the fight happen, but Kid Rock's side ultimately turned it down, fearing the damage to their tough-guy images if one of them lost.

  • In 2006 or 2007, Rallo called Joe Rogan and said Tommy Lee wanted to talk with him.
  • During a visit to Vegas, Rallo recommended a pay-per-view fight between Kid Rock and Tommy Lee.

The players

Joe Rogan

The host of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, who was involved in the discussions about the potential Kid Rock vs. Tommy Lee UFC fight.

John Rallo

A mixed martial artist who was involved in trying to organize the potential Kid Rock vs. Tommy Lee UFC fight.

Tommy Lee

The Motley Crue co-founder who was interested in fighting Kid Rock, allegedly over their shared connection to Pamela Anderson.

Kid Rock

The rock star who was approached about fighting Tommy Lee, but whose team ultimately turned down the idea due to concerns about the potential damage to his tough-guy image.

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What they’re saying

“I bring him in, and I told him, I said, look, when we're going to Long Beach, I know Rogan, I can have him come in and you can tell him your ideas. And he goes, alright, alright. So I bring Joe and Eddie [Bravo], they meet him, he tells Joe he wants to fight [Kid Rock], literally.”

— John Rallo, Mixed martial artist

“So he winds up hitting you know him up and, like, look dude, you know I don't really want to make this call, blah, blah, blah. Of course, Kid Rock took the heat, f**k you, you know, blah, blah. So they're f**king each other back and forth.”

— John Rallo, Mixed martial artist

The takeaway

The story of the nearly-organized Kid Rock vs. Tommy Lee UFC fight highlights the sometimes-absurd lengths that celebrities will go to settle their feuds, as well as the enduring appeal of celebrity combat sports. While the fight ultimately never materialized, the mere idea of two aging rock stars squaring off in the Octagon was enough to provide plenty of entertainment value.