Daniel Cormier Admits Jose Aldo Deserved Exception Dana White Made for UFC Legend Over 14 Years Ago

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, one of television’s most iconic reality game shows is preparing to make a dramatic comeback—seven years after it was last seen. Fear Factor, the adrenaline-pumping series that originally aired for seven seasons on NBC, is officially being rebooted by FOX. On May 12, the network confirmed the news, reviving a show canceled three times but never forgotten by fans. Fear Factor holds a special place in pop culture history—not just for its outrageous stunts, but also for launching Joe Rogan into mainstream fame.

Naturally, the burning question now is: will the podcaster return as host? Speaking to Deadline, FOX Entertainment President Michael Thorn offered an update: “We just ordered the series and we are in the process of hiring showrunners and everything right now. Obviously, he’s major talent tied to the show, but it’s too early for us to say how we’re going to move forward right now.” At this point, Joe Rogan’s involvement remains uncertain.

However, the 56-year-old has spoken openly about his time on Fear Factor and why he took the job in the first place. In episode #2219 of The Joe Rogan Experience, he candidly shared: “This (hosting) is not what I wanna do. What I wanna do, is what I always do—just do stand-up, and have fun. I was doing the UFC back then too. So I was like—do the UFC, commentary, things I love doing. I don’t wanna be doing just a job. Jobs are great, don’t get me wrong. Thankful, I got it.”

Now worth over $200 million, Joe Rogan has the freedom to focus solely on what he loves—his podcast, UFC commentary, and stand-up comedy. Just last year, he returned to the stage with a Netflix special titled Burn the Boats, his first in six years. Still, fans are curious. Journalist Damon Martin recently reported on X that it’s “too early” to say anything definitive about the podcaster’s return.

FOX announced today that “Fear Factor” is being revived by the network but executives said it’s “too early” to say if Joe Rogan will return or not.

Rogan is obviously a MUCH bigger star now but if he takes that gig, can’t help but wonder if that would affect his UFC schedule.

— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) May 12, 2025

While FOX hasn’t shut the door, speculation is mounting that he might not come back—mainly because he’s no longer interested in hosting for the sake of it. Then again… who doesn’t like money? With the reboot officially underway and no host locked in, viewers are buzzing with anticipation. Will a fresh face step into the spotlight, or could Joe Rogan be lured back for one last run? Let’s find out.

What are fans saying about Joe Rogan’s potential return to FOX’s Fear Factor?

Joe Rogan initially joined the UFC because of his love for combat sports, but as he often says, “without money, love is nothing.” In 2001, he also teamed up with NBC’s Fear Factor, a decision that catapulted him to fame in the U.S. the podcaster openly admits that Fear Factor “gave me f–k-you money,” which provided him with the financial freedom that continues to shape his life today. His time on Fear Factor lasted until 2006, after which he left the show to pursue stand-up comedy and a series of comedy specials. It was also during this period that Rogan’s million-dollar podcast was born.

The Austin native briefly returned to Fear Factor in 2011 when the show rebooted, but they canceled it after only one season. Fans are well aware of this, with one commenting on Damon Martin’s X post, “Would be a huge step down for Joe.” Another fan added, “I mean his UFC schedule is doing American PPVs only. With all the places UFC is planning on doing PPV cards in (Australia, Middle East, etc.), seems like a non-issue.”

Now approaching his 60s, Joe Rogan has distanced himself from UFC events outside of the U.S. and prefers to commentate exclusively on PPVs held on American soil. However, should he return to hosting Fear Factor, he would likely need to make adjustments to his schedule. One fan pointed this out: “I think at this point he’s bigger than the show by a large margin, so if they want to bring him back, they will have to work around his schedule.” That said, some fans reminded others of Rogan’s comments on his podcast, episode #2219, where he candidly explained that his motivation for joining Fear Factor was money.

As one fan wrote, “There’s no way he takes that. He’s said on his podcast multiple times he did it for money only and didn’t really enjoy it, plus I don’t think they could afford him now.” After the 2012 edition of Fear Factor was canceled, the show took a long break before MTV revived it for a 9th season, which aired from 2017 to 2018, hosted by rapper and actor Ludacris. Yet, it was canceled once again.

Now, with FOX stepping in, a reboot of Fear Factor is set for 2025-2026, but many questions remain. Would you like to see Joe Rogan return as the host? Do you think his involvement could bring Fear Factor back to its former glory? Share your thoughts below!

The post Daniel Cormier Admits Jose Aldo Deserved Exception Dana White Made for UFC Legend Over 14 Years Ago appeared first on EssentiallySports.