Joe Rogan Missed at UFC 315 as Daniel Cormier’s One True Intention for Belal Muhammad Gets Called Out by Fans

Something was missing at UFC 315, and fans knew it the moment the commentary kicked off. No Joe Rogan. The reason? The perennial UFC commentator doesn’t travel outside the US for commentary duties. And with a special affinity towards not entering the Canadian territory, the booth was filled by Dominick Cruz in Rogan’s absence. This also meant that we didn’t get to see any sharp breakdowns, no wild reactions.

In his absence, Daniel Cormier stepped up to the mic once again. But as the main event between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena unfolded, viewers couldn’t help but wonder, was DC really calling the fight or just calling sides? Inside Montreal’s Bell Center, history was being written. Jack Della Maddalena, the pride of Perth, pulled off a stunning upset to dethrone Muhammad and capture the welterweight title.

The fight was a five-round slugfest, punches flying, takedowns traded, dreams hanging by a thread. In the end, it was the Aussie who stood tall, with his 8th straight win (18th overall) in the promotion, carving his name into UFC lore. But while fists flew and belts changed hands, something else unraveled in real time: fan trust.

As the broadcast rolled on, Daniel Cormier, once a champion himself, seemingly kept throwing his weight behind Maddalena. One line from the former champion stood out: “I don’t ever want to hear Belal Muhammad is boring anymore.” It was meant as praise. But to many, it sounded like backhanded validation, too little, too late.

Cormier, for his part, has often spoken about the tightrope he walks. Friends in the Octagon. Critics in his ear. He’s admitted to overcorrecting, sometimes underselling fighters he knows to avoid claims of favoritism. Especially after UFC 314, where Cormier’s commentary heavily favored Alexander Volkanovski over Diego Lopes. After that controversy, Cormier took to his YouTube channel and stated, “I thought that he fought a vintage fight and there was some, ‘Oh you’re being favoritism to Volk’. I thought it was a pretty easy fight to score.”

“I dont want to hear Belal Muhammed is boring fight anymore” Daniel Cormier

What an amazing fight with JDM & Belal need the next fight asap #UFC315 pic.twitter.com/TO9gCefZNe

— Jeri Tsai (@JeriTsaiNets) May 11, 2025

But at UFC 315, in Joe Rogan’s absence, the weight of perception fell solely on Cormier’s shoulders. And fans didn’t hold back. They felt the balance was off, the praise lopsided. As calls grew louder for lightweight champion and Cormier’s long-time friend, Islam Makhachev, to challenge Della Maddalena next, some believed the stage was being set even before the final horn sounded. Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say!

Daniel Cormier is under fire by fans as Joe Rogan’s absence was sorely felt at UFC 315

UFC fighter Casey O’Neill wrote, “Well, I can tell who is winning the fight, but I can also tell who the commentary team want to win #UFC315.” This echoed a sentiment many shared. Daniel Cormier’s commentary seemed more like cheerleading than analysis. The implication? Belal Muhammad was in the Octagon, but not in the broadcast booth’s favor.

Another viewer didn’t hold back, claiming, “It’s been 15 minutes and the commentary team still hasn’t acknowledged what Belal is doing in the ring. Feels like they just want Islam to fight JDM for a title shot. It’s crazy. They should get rid of Daniel Cormier altogether.” With Islam Makhachev almost set to be moving to welterweight depending on the outcome of the UFC 315 main event, fans speculated that the commentary bias wasn’t accidental.

Some believed Cormier had already picked his next champion, and it wasn’t the defending one. What do you think? One post summed up a growing frustration, writing, “Daniel Cormier is brutal to listen to without Rogan. His doing their interviews in ring is terrible. I wish Rogan travelled outside the us, but yeah, DC is brutal.”

For years, Joe Rogan has avoided traveling outside the U.S., and his absence at UFC 315 in Montreal left a noticeable void. Fans felt Cormier didn’t bring the same balance or energy, especially during high-stakes interviews and post-fight moments. Another commented, fan commented “DC is unbearable as usual.” This blunt take echoed the sentiment of many who felt Daniel Cormier’s energy shifted dramatically depending on who was winning, and who he favored.

Finally, a fan took direct aim, stating, “Daniel Cormier makes it way too obvious who he’s cheering for when he’s on the mic.” This wasn’t the first time DC faced accusations of bias. As mentioned above, at UFC 314, he was also called out for favoring Volkanovski over Diego Lopes. An accusation he’s denied, but one that seems to follow him like a shadow.

In conclusion, while Jack Della Maddalena’s victory should’ve been the night’s biggest headline, it was Daniel Cormier’s perceived favoritism that stole the post-fight conversation. And with Islam Makhachev looming as a potential title challenger, fans couldn’t shake the feeling that the narrative was being guided, not just by punches, but by the commentary mic. So, was Cormier just calling what he saw or what he wanted to see? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

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