Mel Gibson has long been a fan of the UFC, but recent personal experiences with brain trauma have profoundly changed how he views the sport. During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Gibson opened up about his own health struggles and how they led him to see UFC fighters’ injuries in a new light.
Mel Gibson’s Emotional Take on UFC Fights and Brain Injuries
Gibson shared a life-changing experience with brain scans and mental health. He recalled how Dr. Daniel Amen, a specialist he visited, showed him some startling results. “I went and got a brain scan by this guy called Daniel Amen, who’s this brain guy,” Gibson said. “He’s against all psych meds and stuff, but he thinks, like, let me have a look at your brain.”
The doctor’s concern was immediate. He slowly walked over to Gibson and explained, “No. You’re not. And I said, what do you mean? He says, ‘You got the worst case of PTSD I have ever seen.’” Gibson, stunned by the revelation, asked, “Like even worse than guys in war and s**t like that?” The doctor responded, “Yeah.” And with that, Gibson’s reality shifted, admitting, “Jesus Christ. And I started to well up, you know.”
This experience gave him a deeper understanding of brain injuries and a heightened empathy for UFC fighters, especially as he continues to follow their careers.
Gibson’s Personal Experience with Concussions
But Gibson’s own history with brain trauma didn’t stop there. He shared a peculiar story from his daughter’s wedding, when an unexpected hit left him concussed. “I got a concussion at my daughter’s wedding,” Gibson said. “This is really weird… A buddy of mine from Australia comes to the wedding, and he comes up, and I go to hug him. And he ducks down and he comes up, and he puts his shoulder into the point of my chin.”
The incident left Gibson “messed up” for months. “The guy weighs 240. He puts his shoulder into the point of my chin and knocks me the f**k out… for the next 4 months, I’m messed up,” he recalled.
Watching UFC Fights Hit Home
While Gibson is still an avid UFC fan, the emotional toll of seeing fighters endure long-lasting injuries has started to weigh on him more heavily. He admitted that seeing someone he knows personally in the Octagon made it even more difficult to watch.
One fight that particularly affected him was the UFC 266 main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega. “And one of the guys, I know one of the guys fairly well. And usually, I’m pretty immune to it, but, like, he was in there, and he was fighting against [Alexander] Volkanovski. It was Brian Ortega, and he was getting his ass handed to him in that fight,” Gibson said.
Ortega, who came close to submitting Volkanovski on two occasions, was a fighter Gibson had a personal connection with. “Because I knew Brian, it was like my son was in there. I almost started crying,” Gibson admitted. Watching Ortega struggle in the fight was deeply emotional for Gibson. “I was like, I should probably feel like this about all these guys,” he said, “But I don’t know them as well.”
Joe Rogan’s Perspective on Fighters’ Decline
Gibson’s concerns about fighters’ health were shared by Joe Rogan, who has seen firsthand the physical toll fighting takes on his friends in the sport. Rogan acknowledged that it becomes especially troubling when someone he’s close with suffers from these injuries. “It becomes a problem for me when I’m friends with a guy… and you recognize the speech patterns are slurring,” Rogan shared, discussing the heartbreaking signs of long-term brain trauma in fighters.
Rogan admitted that watching friends in the UFC face the consequences of repeated hits in the Octagon is difficult. He explained how personal relationships made him feel more connected to their well-being: “And then I see when they’re on the tail end of their career, and they can’t take shots anymore.”
Mel Gibson: Like, I’m addicted to the UFC, right? I love it, but I know that these guys are…I feel kind of sorry for ’em.pic.twitter.com/3IVC9w4NfT
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) January 9, 2025
Gibson on UFC Addiction and Fighter Safety
Gibson also addressed his own addiction to the UFC, admitting that he loves the sport but is deeply concerned about the toll it takes on the athletes. “Like, I’m addicted to the UFC. Right? I love it,” Gibson said. “But I know that these guys are getting [brain damaged] — I feel kind of sorry for them.”
A Changed View on UFC Fights
Gibson’s experiences, both personal and through watching the UFC, have given him a deeper appreciation for the risks fighters face in the Octagon. While he remains a fan, the emotional impact of seeing fighters endure head injuries has made it harder to watch some fights. His conversation with Rogan sheds light on the delicate balance between admiration for the athletes and concern for their well-being.
