Long before Joe Rogan became the lightning rod of modern media, his name alone was enough to get a show canceled. That's the bombshell claim Craig Carton dropped on WFAN earlier this week during a live studio interview with UFC president Dana White.

Carton, who co-hosts the afternoon drive show with Chris McMonigle, took a trip down memory lane to 2012—back when he hosted MMA Uncensored on Spike TV. Despite strong early ratings, the show was axed after just one season. And according to Carton, the culprit wasn't low viewership—it was his glowing praise for Joe Rogan.

"One of the reasons they decided to stop doing the show is they didn't like the fact that I said ... I think the greatest color analyst in the history of sports is Joe Rogan," Carton told White. He doubled down, comparing Rogan to legends like Troy Aikman and Tim McCarver, calling the UFC commentator "the best ever at explaining the sport to both hardcore fans and newcomers."

Seems like harmless appreciation, right? But here's where the MMA history lesson kicks in. In 2012, Spike TV had just severed ties with the UFC after years of partnership, pivoting instead to Bellator. So when Carton heaped praise on Rogan—the voice of the UFC—it rubbed network brass the wrong way.

Carton revealed that Spike TV went as far as banning him from discussing upcoming UFC events on air. He could only talk about past fights, which made hosting a relevant MMA show nearly impossible. Still, it was the Rogan shoutout that ultimately sealed the show's fate.

In a twist of ironic justice, both Spike TV and Bellator have since faded into history. Spike rebranded as Paramount Network in 2018, and Bellator was dissolved after being acquired by the Professional Fighters League. Meanwhile, Carton's media career is still going strong—and Joe Rogan's podcast remains one of the most influential platforms in the world.

Sometimes, the best revenge is simply outlasting your critics.