While the main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes gets most of the attention at UFC 314, other fights are also exciting. One of these is the strawweight bout between Virna Jandiroba and Yan Xiaonan. The fight was good, but Joe Rogan had some strong opinions. He even suggested changing the rules after noticing some cheating during the match.
Joe Rogan Reflects on Yan Xiaonan’s Fence Grab
Virna Jandiroba may now be the top contender in the strawweight division after a strong win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314. She controlled the fight and earned a clear victory on all judges’ scorecards (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). But the match didn’t end without drama.
In the final round, Xiaonan grabbed the cage to stop a takedown. The incident upset many fans—especially Joe Rogan, who didn’t hold back his frustration. Even though Jandiroba still landed the takedown and stayed in control, Rogan pointed out that fouls like this often go unpunished.
Rogan’s long been vocal about such problems in the sport. On his podcast, he’s often criticized issues like extreme weight cutting. He once called it “sanctioned cheating” and warned that it puts fighters’ health at risk.
ALMOST AT THE BUZZER 🤯@VirnaJandiroba | #UFC314 pic.twitter.com/wnxLORdxiw
— UFC (@ufc) April 13, 2025
This latest moment only added to his concerns. But for Jandiroba, the win was huge. It’s her fifth straight victory in the UFC and another step toward a title shot. With her recent run of success, she looks ready for a championship opportunity at 115 pounds.
Rogan’s Advocacy for Rule Changes
Joe Rogan has never been the type to stay quiet when he sees something wrong inside the cage. Since the foul moment caught his attention, as expected, he didn’t hold back. He reacted in true Rogan style. His frustration showed as he discussed the issue live with Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik.
The moment led Rogan to call for stricter MMA rules. He pushed for automatic point deductions for fouls like fence grabs and eye pokes. According to Rogan, this would stop fighters from breaking the rules just to gain an advantage.
Joe Rogan makes a great point. Automatic point deduction when you fence grab or eye poke. It would end the problem once and for all. Fighters will be forced to adjust. #UFC314
— Milner_905 (@milner_905) April 13, 2025
He suggested, “If it was just an immediate, automatic point deduction every time you grabbed the fence, there would be no more fence grabs. And eye pokes. It would all stop. They would close the hand every time they reach out to try and create space.”
While watching the replay, he called the fence grab moment “blatant, long-holding, clearly cheating.”
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