Joe Rogan Calls for MMA Judging Reform After Controversial Scorecards

Joe Rogan discussed the May 23, 2026 heavyweight title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza, saying the official scorecards made the stoppage appear unjust. He described the discrepancy as either "corruption or incompetence" and argued that the judges’ decisions were a "crime." Rogan proposed increasing the number of judges and considering alternative scoring systems to improve fairness.

Rogan also defended UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall after his bout with Ciryl Gane ended in a no‑contest due to a double eye poke. He condemned fans who criticized Aspinall for stopping the fight, calling the reaction "insane" and emphasizing that the injury required surgery. Rogan urged the MMA community to give Aspinall grace and to recognize the foul that forced the stoppage.