Joe Rogan appeared to question President Donald Trump’s UFC event at the White House on June 14, coincidentally Trump’s 80th birthday. (Watch the video below.)
Rogan, the popular podcaster and UFC commentator, mocked details Trump recently provided.
“So, Jamie, what did you just say?” Rogan began Tuesday by addressing producer Jamie Vernon on “The Joe Rogan Experience.” “I stopped you because it sounded so crazy.”
Vernon responded off-screen that Trump said the event would feature “eight to nine” title fights, which cheered up the skeptic in Rogan.
“First of all, there are only eight weight classes, so how can there be nine title fights?” Rogan said laughing. “‘That’s a bit crazy.'”
Rogan then brought up his impression of Trump, saying, “We’re going to have 20 title fights – all the title fights there have ever been.”
Although no card has been set yet, Rogan said not having ex-heavyweight champion Jon Jones would be a “travesty.” Jones showed interest in the battle in the White House, but UFC boss Dana White deemed him unreliable. White previously said that Jones, perhaps the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all time, had retired.
Rogan scanned a report from Trump’s update on the fighting and laughed at the president for predicting eight or nine championship fights. “It would literally have to be every weight class fighting for the title, which would be crazy,” Rogan said.
As Rogan read that the arena in front of the White House would hold 5,000 to 6,000 people, with another 100,000 spectators watching giant monitors in the back, he asked, “What kind of goddamn security are they going to have for this?”
“You must be crazy,” says podcast guest Brendan Allen, a UFC middleweight.
Rogan asked Allen if he wanted to join. “It just seems much, much more than what it should be,” he replied. “I’m sure it’ll be pretty cool to watch.”
(His diplomatic response was in stark contrast to the fact that the fighter Brandon Royval left the scorched earth during this event.)
Rogan had a high-profile pre-election interview with Trump and endorsed him, but he is not always on the same page with Trump on policy. The host has criticized the government for extreme measures in its immigration crackdown, including the use of hype videos.
Here’s an earlier AI rendering of what the UFC event could look like:
