Podcast host and UFC commentator Joe Rogan praised the White House event he helped host last weekend as the “greatest night of fights of all time,” but did not address a widely criticized moment in which a fighter he interviewed made a crude remark about former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Rogan called the UFC fight at the White House on Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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In an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” published Wednesday, his first since the UFC event at the White House, Rogan called it the “wildest experience” he has ever had in his decades of calling UFC fights, praising it as the “greatest” night of fights ever.
Rogan noted every fight ended in a knockout or technical knockout, the first time that has ever happened in the UFC’s history, which he called “unprecedented” and a “perfect experience” for the fans who watched either at the South Lawn arena or at the nearby Ellipse park in Washington, D.C.
Rogan acknowledged he was “very concerned” about the weather, an issue he frequently raised on his podcast before the event, but he said nearby storms “miraculously” passed the White House.
Rogan, though, did not address fighter Josh Hokit’s remark that Michelle Obama is “a man,” which he said during a post-fight interview Rogan conducted—a comment UFC president Dana White slammed after the event as “nonsense.”
In a critique of both the right and left, Rogan criticized observers for making the fight “a partisan thing.”
Attending the UFC event does not equate to supporting President Donald Trump, Rogan said, adding, “It’s a f—ing fight at the White House. It doesn’t mean you endorse foreign policy.”
He also criticized the right wing for celebrating the event as “a win for masculinity and patriotism and all these different things. Like, okay, settle down,” he said.
Rogan repeatedly raised concerns on his podcast over the weather and potential safety hazards, despite being slated to call the event. In a May episode of his show, he said, “I don’t like the idea of fighting outside at all,” suggesting hot weather, storms or bugs could interfere with the fights. “Build a roof,” he suggested. In another May episode, he said the event should be held in a “controlled environment out of respect for the athletes.” In a March episode, Rogan, who has been a frequent critic of the war in Iran, said it is “weird to have a fight at the White House in the middle of a f—ing war.” He also suggested the event could be a safety hazard, saying, “Having this very high profile event where everyone’s in one place at one time right there… it seems like you’re asking for,” before trailing off. In another episode in March, Rogan confirmed he would be at the event but was “not thrilled about it,” calling it “kind of a gimmick” and a potential “security nightmare.”
The Justice Department on Tuesday said it charged five people in connection with an alleged plot to deploy explosives drones around the event to kill government officials. The mother of one of the accused reported him to authorities after he purchased weapons and became involved with an online group concerned about “government corruption, the handling of the Epstein files” and “data centers taking up all the water in communities,” according to an affidavit. The Department of Justice used the alleged plot as justification for the White House constructing a ballroom, which Trump has long advocated for.
Other high-profile critics emerged ahead of the White House fight, including UFC co-founder Rorion Gracie, who said he would not watch because the UFC has embraced “unnecessary violence,” which was “not the direction it was intended to go” when he co-founded it. UFC fighters Sean Strickland and Bryce Mitchell and former champion Ronda Rousey also criticized the event in advance, with Strickland claiming he was “banned,” which UFC president Dana White disputed. Even White suggested the outdoor location could be a problem ahead of the event, though he called the fight an “amazing experience” afterward.
The White House held the UFC fights on Sunday in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as well as Trump’s 80th birthday. The fight began after a short weather delay, and American fighter Justin Gaethje won in the main event against Georgian Ilia Topuria. In a highly controversial remark, fighter Josh Hokit said after winning his bout that former First Lady Michelle Obama is a man. The event was a $60 million affair the UFC has said it paid the bill for.
Rogan Criticizes White House UFC Fight Again: ‘I Don’t Like The Idea Of Fighting Outside’ (Forbes)
UFC At White House: Fighter Makes Crude Remarks About Michelle Obama After Win (Forbes)
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