UFC color commentator Joe Rogan will not be a part of the broadcast team for UFC 266 on Saturday and Paul Felder will take his place.
Rogan insists that a hunting trip is in direct conflict with the UFC’s big PPV. News of the switch-up was first reported by sources at MMA Junkie. As one of the UFC’s go-to for PPV events, the broadcast team will move on without him and dub former UFC lightweight Felder instead. UFC 266 will feature two title fights inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For residents in the U.S., the marquee event will air on pay-per-view on ESPN+ at 10 P.M EST. In addition, televised preliminary fights will tentatively start at 6 P.M. EST. According to MMA Junkie, Rogan will be participating in his annual hunting trip. Instead, former UFC fighter Felder will take his place. Jon Anik will serve as the lead play-by-play man alongside former double champion Daniel Cormier and Felder throughout the night.
The long-time UFC correspondent Megan Olivi will head pre and post-fight interviews. As usual, we can all expect to hear the roaring voice of Bruce Buffer announcing the event. While Rogan was on the microphone for the first bout between Robbie Lawler and Nick Diaz at UFC 47 in 2004, that, unfortunately, will not be the case this time around.
Atop the stacked car sits two championship fights. First to step into the Octagon will be the flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko seeking a sixth consecutive defense. Against “The Bullet” is Lauren Murphy riding a 5-fight winning streak. In the main event, featherweight gold is on the line as Alexander Volkanovski looks to fend off the submission specialist Bryan Ortega. The two fighters were coaches on the most previous installment of The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega.
What fight are you most looking forward to at UFC 266?
