Joe Rogan Reflects on Ending Fighting Career at 22

The UFC commentator cites brain damage concerns, injury, and lack of financial reward as key factors behind his early retirement from competition.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Joe Rogan, the longtime UFC commentator, has opened up about why he decided to step away from competitive fighting at the young age of 22. Rogan, who had a successful career in Taekwondo and kickboxing, said he became increasingly concerned about the long-term effects of brain damage after witnessing it in his fellow fighters. He also cited an ACL injury and the lack of financial reward as other reasons for his early retirement from the sport.

Why it matters

Rogan's decision to retire from fighting at 22 highlights the growing awareness and concerns around the risks of brain trauma in combat sports. As a prominent figure in the UFC, his perspective provides valuable insight into the difficult choices athletes sometimes have to make to prioritize their long-term health.

The details

Rogan started out in Taekwondo as a teenager, becoming a four-time Massachusetts full-contact state champion and winning the U.S. Open Taekwondo Championship. He later transitioned to kickboxing, but chose to retire from competitive fighting at the age of 22 to pursue a career in comedy. In a recent podcast episode, Rogan explained that seeing the real-life impacts of brain damage in his fellow fighters, as well as experiencing headaches after sparring sessions, made him reconsider the risks. He also mentioned an ACL injury and the lack of financial reward as other factors that contributed to his decision to step away from the sport.

  • Rogan started doing comedy at 21 years old.
  • Rogan stopped fighting competitively at 22 years old.

The players

Joe Rogan

A 58-year-old comedian and longtime UFC commentator who had a successful early career in Taekwondo and kickboxing before retiring from competition at age 22.

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What they’re saying

“I'd had a series of events that led me out of wanting to compete. One of them was recognizing brain damage. Recognizing it in other people. Recognizing it in friends and then laying in bed with headaches after sparring sessions, going 'where does this lead?' and I'm not even making any money off of this.”

— Joe Rogan (Yardbarker)

“I realized, 'Oh, these guys can't remember that they just said this thing five minutes ago.' It was like they were stoned, and they weren't. They were just starting to exhibit the beginning signs of brain damage.”

— Joe Rogan (Yardbarker)

The takeaway

Rogan's decision to retire from fighting at a young age highlights the growing awareness and concerns around the long-term health risks, particularly brain trauma, that athletes in combat sports face. His perspective as a prominent figure in the UFC provides valuable insight into the difficult choices some athletes have to make to prioritize their well-being over continued competition.