Joe Rogan has issued a terrifying warning ahead of this summer’s UFC White House event, revealing concerns that it will be targeted by Iran amid the ongoing war.
On June 14th, US President Donald Trump will watch on as Dana White’s promotion touches down on the White House’s South Lawn for the historic ‘UFC Freedom 250’.
However, like many fans, Rogan has expressed his concerns over safety regulations for the event, given the recent conflict that threatens to spread onto American soil.
On Thursday, the FBI alerted California law enforcement to potential Iranian drone strikes on the West Coast in an attack of retaliation following US airstrikes.
With all this considered, Rogan – who regularly commentates on UFC events and who will likely be in the booth on fight night – spoke out about the issue on his podcast.
Rogan explained: ‘It sounds crazy. It’s going to be very high security and high stress and weird to have a fight at the White House in the middle of a f***ing war.’
Joe Rogan has issued a terrifying warning ahead of this summer’s UFC White House event
Donald Trump and Dana White will oversee the historic ‘UFC Freedom 250’ later this year
While UFC officials have promised unprecedented security measures for the event, Rogan remains skeptical that tensions will have cooled by the time it rolls around.
‘I would hope the war will be sorted out by June, but quite honestly, I’m not confident that’s going to be the case,’ the podcast giant admitted.
‘It will be weird, having this high-profile event where everybody is in one place at one time right there,’ he noted, describing the gathering as a potential magnet for trouble.
‘It seems like you’re asking [for trouble],’ Rogan said.
The June 14 event is notably unique, with no tickets being sold to the public and the guest list strictly limited to approximately 5,000 hand-picked attendees.
UFC CEO White has championed the event as a landmark moment for the sport, but Rogan’s comments highlight a growing anxiety within the promotion’s inner circle.
On Saturday, White finally revealed the fight card for UFC Freedom 250, however some fans were left underwhelmed by the line-up, despite the historic venue.
The main event of the evening will feature a bout between lightweights Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje to unify the lightweight belts. Topuria is returning after a hiatus.
Elsewhere on the card, Alex Pereira and Cyril Gane will fight – as will Sean O’Malley and Aiemann Zahabi in what promises to be a stacked night of action.
The event will be held on the south lawn of the White House, with extra seating on The Ellipse
UFC previously revealed renderings of what their White House event could look like
The weigh-in and press conferences would take place outside the Lincoln Memorial, which is undergoing renovations for a new museum and visitors’ centre
The most notable absence from the card is the name of Irishman Conor McGregor, who had been angling for a return to the octagon for this event.
As for logistics, the event will be held outdoors – with seating on the White House lawn for 5,000 people and then up to 85,000 set to watch from The Ellipse, a public park across the street.
‘We’re gonna have big screens, a stage, music throughout the day,’ White said. ‘We’re basically going to take over DC that whole week with lots of different things for fight fans.
‘The fighters will actually walk from the Oval Office to the Octagon.’
