Joe Rogan is pushing back on the UFC’s plan to stage its UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday, June 14th.
The UFC’s play-by-play commentator criticized both the outdoor setup and the decision to host the card at the White House during a war with Iran, raising safety and environmental concerns about the event.
“There’s going to be a UFC on the White House lawn,” Rogan said, before questioning the security implications. “That seems like a good safe place to be, huh? Everyone’s going to know where all the world leaders are going to be. We’re all going to be stuck sitting in that spot for six hours calling fights. Super safe. I feel completely safe.”
Rogan also took issue with the open-air staging. “I do not like it because it’s outside,” he said. “And I think world championship fights should be in a controlled environment out of respect for the athletes and how difficult it is to compete professionally in a world title.”
Despite his concerns, Rogan acknowledged the spectacle of the planned show. “However, I should say, however, it’s going to be a spectacle,” he said, adding, “Whether I was there or not, I would be watching, 100%. I think it’s awesome that Trump, this is one of the things that I like about him, he’s like, ‘F--k it. Let’s do it.’ He puts on cage fights on the White House lawn. That’s nuts.”
“There has been pushback from mainstream media about holding mixed martial arts fights on the South Lawn of the White House,” according to the article referenced in the extraction data.
