UFC 266: Joe Rogan had a chance to return for Diaz-Lawler rematch — went hunting instead

Longtime UFC color commentator Joe Rogan was in the booth for the UFC 47: “It’s On” pay-per-view (PPV) event way back in April 2004, when Nick Diaz upset the division apple cart with a thunderous knockout victory over top welterweight slugger Robbie Lawler.

Relive history right here.

LIVE! Watch UFC 288 PPV On ESPN+ Here!

BLOCKBUSTER BANTAMWEIGHT BATTLE! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Newark, N.J., for the first time in more than three years on Sat., May 6, 2023, with a blockbuster Bantamweight collision inside Prudential Center that will see Aljamain Sterling attempt another successful title defense against returning two-division titleholder and former gold medal-winning Olympic wrestler, Henry Cejudo. In UFC 288’s last-minute pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event, former Welterweight title challenger, Gilbert Burns, locks horns with No. 4-seeded contender, Belal Muhammad, in a five-round, 170-pound No. 1 contender eliminator match.

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!

• STREAM UFC 288

Sadly, Rogan will not have a seat at the broadcast table for their UFC 266 rematch. In his absence, that duty falls to former UFC lightweight Paul Felder, who calls the action alongside ex-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and play-by-play mainstay Jon Anik.

Rogan had a scheduling conflict with his annual hunting trip, according to MMA Junkie.

Anik will also host the UFC 266 post-fight show with ex-Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez and former UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen. Megan Olivi is the roving reporter for this Sat. night’s (Sept. 15) fight card in Las Vegas, while Bruce Buffer has the mic inside the cage.

UFC 266 will be headlined by the featherweight title fight between division kingpin Alex Volkanovski and top contender Brian Ortega. In the PPV co-main event, 125-pound champion Valentina Shevchenko battles Lauren Murphy for flyweight supremacy.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 266: “Volkanovski vs. Ortega” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.