“The remarkable thing, though, is that no UFC fighter, as they say, has ever died, and yet it seems to me far more violent than boxing. Many boxers have died. Isn’t that interesting?” U.S. President Donald Trump told Joe Rogan during his iconic JRE appearance last year. The debate over which combat sport is safer has persisted for decades. While no combat sport is entirely risk-free—injuries, bruises, and broken bones are common in both—statistics indicate that boxing is deadlier than MMA.
Between 1890 and 2023, around 1894 fighters lost their lives in the ring, with 22 deaths occurring in 1953 alone. Fast forward to 2025, and once again, the combat sports world has suffered the tragic loss of a 28-year-old rising boxer, John Cooney, who sustained fatal injuries during a fight. Now, the UFC color commentator has revived the debate over which sport—boxing or MMA—is “safer.” This comes at a time when UFC head honcho Dana White, the podcaster’s close ally, is exploring the world of boxing again.
White recently revealed a multi-year partnership with Saudi Arabian promoter Turki Alalshikh to launch a new boxing promotion under TKO Holdings, aiming to transform the sport. This venture is set to kick off in September in Las Vegas, with the inaugural event expected to feature a highly anticipated clash between multiple-time world champion Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. Now, Joe Rogan recently reignited the ongoing debate about boxing’s safety during a candid conversation with comedian Michael Kosta on JRE #2290.
Joe Rogan criticized boxing’s rule set, claiming they allow too much damage to be inflicted on fighters, giving the opponent “the chance to take more damage,” the podcaster explained. He went on to highlight the lasting effects of such punishment, noting, “Because they can recover, but not all the way. You know, sometimes a guy gets rocked early in a fight, and you can tell for the whole rest of the fight.” Rogan concluded by asserting, “I think it’s an unsafe sport. I think it’s an unsafe sport.”
MMA: UFC 165-Jones vs Gustafsson Sep 21, 2013, Toronto, Ontario, CAN UFC commentator Joe Rogan after the Jon Jones not pictured fight against Alexander Gustafsson not pictured during their Light Heavyweight Championship bout at UFC 165 at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto Ontario CAN, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xTomxSzczerbowskix 7485195
But is any combat sport truly safer, given the inevitable injuries? As of 2023, MMA has witnessed 16 recorded deaths, both in sanctioned and unregulated bouts. However, the UFC, since its inception, has not seen any fatalities. The sport’s adoption of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts in the year 2000 and even the ongoing evolution have played a major role in enhancing its safety over the years.
Three decades ago, no one could have imagined that MMA, once criticized as “human cockfighting,” would eventually be regarded as safer than boxing—an age-old sport with a 150-year history and a long list of confirmed fatalities. This viewpoint was also shared by a former bantamweight champion a few years ago. Let’s take a closer look.
Sean O’Malley shared his boxing experience with Joe Rogan
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is widely regarded as one of the promotion’s most skilled strikers, with many drawing comparisons between his style and that of UFC megastar Conor McGregor. However, what might surprise some is that O’Malley has experience in professional boxing.
In 2016, he faced Arizona boxer David Courtney at Celebrity Theatre, where ‘Suga’ emerged victorious by knockout. During his appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, JRE MMA Show #133, in 2022, O’Malley opened up about his brief stint in boxing and the intense sparring sessions boxers endure, which can lead to long-term damage.
He explained, “I had a pro-boxing fight a while back, and I went to a pro-boxing gym. You spar Monday, Wednesday, Friday, three times a week, hard. So, I think it’s probably a mixture of how hard those motherf—ers spar and then the accumulation of getting hit in the head and getting dropped, and then the ref’s like, ‘Here, we’ll let you feel decent enough to be able to continue.’ It’s hard to watch.” He added, “I think it’s a lot of that. A lot of the damage is in sparring.”
What do you think of Joe Rogan’s comments? With Dana White’s upcoming boxing league and the potential transformation of the sport, do you believe this will introduce a safer approach compared to the traditional boxing events of the past? Share your thoughts below.
The post Amid Rumors of Dana White’s Canelo Alvarez Deal, Joe Rogan Draws Attention on Boxing’s “Unsafe” Reality appeared first on EssentiallySports.
