UFC 323: Joe Rogan's Final Call on ESPN+ PPV - A Historic Night

Rogan returns to call the potential last ESPN+ pay-per-view, as Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against Petr Yan in the main event.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:29am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the UFC 323 main event fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan, with the fighters' forms fractured and overlapping in a dynamic, multi-perspective composition.The UFC 323 main event promises to be a clash of styles, as champion Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against former champion Petr Yan in a highly anticipated rematch.Las Vegas Today

UFC 323 is set to be a historic night, as longtime commentator Joe Rogan is slated to join the broadcast team for what could be the final ESPN+ pay-per-view event. The main event features Merab Dvalishvili defending his title against Petr Yan in a highly anticipated rematch, while the co-main event sees four-time defending flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja take on Joshua Van.

Why it matters

Rogan's presence on the UFC 323 broadcast could signal the end of an era for the promotion's partnership with ESPN+, as the future of the pay-per-view model on the streaming platform remains uncertain. Additionally, the title fights on the card feature some of the UFC's top stars, making this a must-watch event for MMA fans.

The details

UFC 323 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with Joe Rogan joining the commentary team of Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier. Megan Olivi will serve as the roaming reporter, while Din Thomas will provide coach's commentary. The official weigh-in show on Friday will feature Cormier, Laura Sanko, former champion Chris Weidman, and host Dan Hellie. The analyst desk for fight week includes Chael Sonnen, Anthony Smith, and Gilbert Melendez, with Brendan Fitzgerald as the host.

  • UFC 323 is scheduled for this Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • The official weigh-ins will take place on Friday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Joe Rogan

A longtime UFC commentator who is slated to join the broadcast team for UFC 323, potentially signaling the end of the UFC's partnership with ESPN+.

Merab Dvalishvili

The current UFC bantamweight champion, who is defending his title against Petr Yan in the main event of UFC 323.

Petr Yan

A former UFC bantamweight champion, who is challenging Merab Dvalishvili for the title in the main event of UFC 323.

Alexandre Pantoja

The current UFC flyweight champion, who is defending his title against Joshua Van in the co-main event of UFC 323.

Joshua Van

The challenger for the UFC flyweight title, who is facing champion Alexandre Pantoja in the co-main event of UFC 323.

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What they’re saying

“This could be the last ESPN+ pay-per-view we see, and having Joe Rogan back on the broadcast is a huge deal. It's going to be a historic night for the UFC.”

— Mike Heck, MMA Fighting reporter

What’s next

The UFC will likely make an announcement in the coming weeks or months about the future of their pay-per-view partnership with ESPN+, which could have significant implications for the promotion's distribution and pricing model going forward.

The takeaway

UFC 323 represents a potential crossroads for the promotion, as the return of Joe Rogan to the broadcast team and the uncertainty surrounding the future of ESPN+ pay-per-views could signal the end of an era for the UFC's digital distribution strategy. The high-profile title fights on the card only add to the significance of this event.