Joe Rogan may be set to call the action at UFC Freedom 250, but the longtime commentator still has major doubts about the promotion’s ambitious White House event.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Rogan questioned whether hosting championship fights outdoors on the South Lawn is the right move, especially with unpredictable weather conditions expected in Washington, D.C., in mid-June.
“I don’t like the idea of fighting outside at all,” Rogan said. “The White House thing is odd.”
One of his biggest concerns is the potential heat. The renowned podcaster noted that temperatures around the same date last year reportedly climbed close to 100 degrees, raising concerns about how fighters will perform under extreme conditions.
“That’s hot as f–k,” Rogan said while discussing the outdoor setup.
Rogan also pointed to another issue that could impact the event once the giant lighting structures are switched on.
“And then the lights… bugs,” he said. “What are you gonna do? How are you gonna stop the bugs?”
According to Rogan, world title fights should take place inside a fully controlled arena rather than in an open-air environment where heat, humidity, wind, or insects could potentially affect the outcome.
“I just don’t think you should compete in a world championship fight in a non-controlled environment,” Rogan explained. “It should be inside an air-conditioned arena.”
Despite his criticism, Rogan is still expected to work the historic card on June 14, which will feature a lightweight title unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, along with an interim heavyweight title clash between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira.
Construction for the event officially began this week on the White House South Lawn.