Dana White pushes back against Joe Rogan’s fix for weight-cutting in the UFC
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC Dana White has confirmed he won’t be moving forward with Joe Rogan’s proposal to address weight-cutting issues in the UFC. Even as the sport’s top promotion, the UFC still has its share of criticism. Issues like fighter pay and matchmaking regularly come up among fans who think there are areas that could use improvement.
One thing Rogan has been consistent about is his desire to tackle extreme weight cuts, a part of the sport he’s openly called “the worst thing. ” Joe Rogan’s suggestion for more UFC weight classes not on Dana White’s agenda Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC Weight-cutting has been a major talking point in MMA for years, and the start of 2026 was no exception. The issue came up again at UFC 324 when Cameron Smotherman collapsed during weigh-ins.
After making weight, the bantamweight fell face-first onto the stage, highlighting ongoing concerns around the practice. Rogan, who has long spoken out against extreme weight cuts, shared his thoughts on how to address it not long after. “I think for MMA, they really need to recognize this that one of the things that’s going to stop weight cuts is give people more weight classes, give people more options,” he said on The Joe Rogan Experience.
But Dana White isn’t planning to make any changes on that front. Speaking after UFC London over the weekend, White was clear when asked if he would ever consider expanding beyond the current 11 divisions. “No.
They’re going to stay exactly the same,” he replied. Joe Rogan’s other rejected idea Rogan has had more than one suggestion knocked back by White. In addition to his roles as a commentator and podcaster, Rogan is also a fan of the sport, especially kickboxing.