After nearly four years out of the spotlight, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has reignited the combat sports world with a stunning comeback announcement. At 46, the Filipino icon is set to challenge WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios in a high-stakes bout scheduled for July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Breaking the news via his official account, ‘PacMan’ declared: “I’m back. On July 19…at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Let’s make history!” The revelation instantly sent shockwaves through both boxing and MMA circles.
While fans buzzed with excitement, many experts and commentators voiced concern over Manny Pacquiao’s age and the risks of returning to elite competition so late in his career. One such reaction came from NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who appeared on episode #2325 of The Joe Rogan Experience and expressed disbelief: “That’s kind of crazy. He’s 46 years old.” Joe Rogan, however, took a more skeptical stance.
Rather than dismissing the comeback, he hinted at the possibility of PED use: “He’s not going to come back at 46 on the natch, I guarantee you.” The podcaster went on to reflect on ‘PacMan’s storied career, which spans eight weight classes, while also casting doubt on the authenticity of his physical transformation over the years. “Yeah, I mean, boxing has always had a steroid issue,” he noted.
He then drew comparisons to MMA, and the UFC in particular, where stricter drug testing protocols have changed the landscape. When Rodgers asked, “Why did they stop doing that or change the weight classes?” Joe Rogan shifted focus to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), crediting it with cleaning up UFC to a significant extent. To illustrate his point, the podcaster brought up former UFC heavyweight star Alistair Overeem—whose dramatic physical transformation before and after USADA testing became a cautionary tale:
“Alistair Overeem is the greatest example. Alistair—when he fought Brock Lesnar, got drug tested, and he was saucy as f**k. When he’s flexing on stage, that’s when he was ‘Ubereem’, 260, solid as f**k, ripped, and just one of the more elite strikers on planet Earth. And Brock was f**ked. And they make him take the dr*g test and he becomes a normal person with good fighting skills. I mean, he wasn’t the ‘Ubereem’ anymore—this destroyer.”
MMA: UFC 274-Cortez vs Gatto, May 7, 2022 Phoenix, Arizona, USA UFC host Joe Rogan during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports, 07.05.2022 15:43:40, 18687974, UFC, Joe Rogan, MMA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMarkxJ.xRebilasx 18687974
At UFC 141, Alistair Overeem ended Brock Lesnar’s night in just one round with a devastating liver kick that left the former WWE star reeling. More than a year has passed since the UFC and USADA went their separate ways, bringing an end to a partnership that had grown increasingly strained. The split, often seen as a drawn-out standoff, raised doubts about the future of anti-doping measures in MMA. Still, Joe Rogan continues to criticize USADA’s legacy and its influence on the sport.
While Rogan typically has a nuanced take when it comes to PEDs, he has made it clear he believes there are situations where these substances should be allowed. So, what’s the exception that might justify their use? Let’s dig a little deeper.
Joe Rogan underlines the hypocrisy of USADA
“You have to work on your wrestling, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu. There’s not enough time in the day, and there’s not enough time to recover. So that’s when comes in Dr. Feelgood. He comes along, and bang,” said Joe Rogan back in 2015, during a time when USADA was ramping up testing on some of the UFC’s biggest names—including Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, and most recently at that time, Hector Lombard. The podcaster called the widespread steroid use in combat sports an “epidemic.”
Despite this, Joe Rogan has never been completely against PEDs in sports. Even back in 2015, he supported their use for recovery and post-surgery rehabilitation, emphasizing the need for fighters to properly heal. Jump ahead to 2025, and the situation hasn’t changed much. The relationship between UFC and USADA remains tense, especially after controversies involving testing protocols for Conor McGregor as he recovered from a serious injury. Dana White openly criticized how McGregor was treated, and Rogan—who has long championed science-based advances in athlete recovery—spoke out once again.
On episode #2285 of his podcast, while talking with Andrew Schulz, Rogan recounted how USADA banned UFC fighters from using stem cell therapy to speed recovery. He said, “Well, let me tell you something. There’s a reason why USADA didn’t let people use it in the UFC, and now Dr*g-Free Sports don’t let people use it—it’s because it works. It’s really stupid, but the idea is that it’s performance-enhancing because it lets you heal quicker—heal from injuries quicker, potentially heal from recovering from training quicker.”
What do you think about Manny Pacquiao’s return? Do Joe Rogan’s comments about the boxing legend hold weight? Share your thoughts below.
The post Speculating Manny Pacquiao of Taking Steroids, Joe Rogan and Aaron Rodgers Relive Brock Lesnar’s Past Loss in UFC, USADA Debate appeared first on EssentiallySports.