Popular podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan has issued a stark warning to influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul, suggesting his fighting days should be over following a severe injury sustained in the ring.
A Costly Victory: $92 Million and a Broken Jaw
The warning comes after Jake Paul, 28, faced former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a non-title bout streamed on Netflix on Friday, December 19, 2025. The fight ended in a sixth-round knockout, with Paul suffering a jaw shattered in two places. The injury required surgical repair with two titanium plates. Despite the brutal loss, the event earned Paul an estimated $92 million.
Rogan's Grave Health Concerns
On a recent episode of his massively popular "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, Rogan expressed deep concern for Paul's long-term well-being. He argued that the physical toll of boxing carries a hidden price that is simply "not worth it."
"It's not worth it," Rogan stated, per a report from the New York Post. "And that price is depression, deep depression, a severe brain imbalance that's going to lead you to addiction." Rogan connected the potential for post-career struggles, including impulsive behaviour with gambling, drugs, and alcohol, to the trauma of repeated head injuries.
He specifically referenced the power of Joshua's knockout punch, suggesting it delivered catastrophic force. "You can only take so much," Rogan said. "Say if you have a punch card, you have so many punches that you can get in life... That one was like 10 punches. That was a lot of concussions in that one punch. That was real damage." Rogan emphasized that significant damage occurs "inside your head" when the jaw is broken so severely.
Paul's Perspective and Future in the Ring
Despite the injury and Rogan's warnings, Jake Paul has shown a resilient attitude. Appearing on his brother's "Impaulsive" podcast after the fight, Paul claimed he won two rounds against Joshua before being knocked down.
"I was doing good, my cardio, just the mental pressure of the big guy... It was a great experience, I learnt a lot in there," Paul said, according to Sky Sports. He cited not using altitude training as his biggest mistake and believed with more time to build muscle, he could have performed better. "I had him wobbled at one point," Paul added.
Paul began his professional boxing career in 2020, building a record with wins against several former MMA fighters. In a previous high-profile event, he defeated boxing legend Mike Tyson in another Netflix-streamed match last year.
Rogan's comments highlight the ongoing debate about safety in combat sports, especially for athletes who enter the ring from other entertainment fields. Whether Paul heeds this advice or continues his lucrative boxing journey remains to be seen.
