Longtime color commentator Joe Rogan will be back on the call at UFC 281 when the promotion heads to the world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City per a report from MMA Junkie.
Rogan last appeared on a UFC pay-per-view broadcast in September for UFC 279 which featured Nate Diaz’s final appearance inside the Octagon. The popular podcaster skipped out on UFC 280 as the promotion headed out of the country, returning to ‘Fight Island’ for a mega-sized event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Rogan has previously confirmed that he will not appear at numbered events that emanate from outside of the United States. With the promotion returning to MSG this weekend, Rogan will be back.
Joining him will be play-by-play man John Anik and former two-division UFC champion, Daniel Cormier.
Saturday’s event features a stacked lineup headlined by a trilogy bout of sorts as GLORY Kickboxing rivals Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira battle it out for Adesanya’s UFC middleweight championship. In the co-main event of the evening, newly crowned strawweight titleholder Carla Esparza will defend her title against former champion Zhang Weili.
Rounding out the main card is a lightweight war between two fast and furious fan favorites in Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier and ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler.
UFC 281 commentary team set: Joe Rogan returns to the booth for Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira https://t.co/8EHY32B9vs pic.twitter.com/kfpJvTZKBY
— Stream UFC (@StreamUFC1) November 8, 2022
Rounding Out the UFC 281 Broadcast Team
In addition to the evening’s commentary team, UFC 281 will feature longtime UFC correspondent Megan Olivi as the roving reporter, providing post-fight interviews and live updates throughout the event.
The evening’s desk analysts will feature John Anik pulling double-duty alongside Paul Felder and former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith. Teddy Atlas will also join the team at the desk.
Last, but certainly not least, the voice of the Octagon, Bruce Buffer will return to his Octagon announcing duties at UFC 281.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwRYQcFSkaA