Joe Rogan has raised concerns about potential weather complications for the upcoming UFC event scheduled at the White House, expressing doubts about how outdoor conditions could impact fighters and the overall production of the card.
During a recent episode of the JRE MMA Show with middleweight contender Brendan Allen, the topic of the unprecedented White House UFC event came up after news broke that President Donald Trump announced plans for eight to nine title matches at the venue.
The conversation quickly shifted to logistical concerns, with Rogan questioning the practicality of hosting such a high-stakes event outdoors.
“What happens if it rains?” Allen asked, highlighting one of the most obvious weather-related issues. Rogan also asks: “What if it’s hot and muggy? That’s going to affect people.”
Both Rogan and Allen recalled previous outdoor MMA events that faced severe weather challenges, including a memorable King of the Cage event in Louisiana where fighters competed in pouring rain.
The discussion referenced a particularly notorious card where rainfall made the canvas dangerously slippery, with competitors visibly struggling to maintain their footing while throwing strikes.
“Look at these guys sliding around,” Rogan noted while reviewing footage. “This is so crazy. They’re throwing punches and slipping. This is like winos in a parking lot of a liquor store,” he added.
Allen added that judging such matches would be nearly impossible. He joked:Â “Imagine everyone didn’t know it was raining. Be like, ‘Man, you got rocked like 30 times.’ No, bro, I didn’t get rocked. It was wet.”
Beyond rain, Rogan expressed additional concerns about extreme heat and humidity, which could significantly affect fighter performance. “What if it’s like 98 degrees outside?” he questioned. “It’s June in Maryland. DC gets hot. It gets hot in the summer.” Rogan said.
According to Trump’s statements, the arena will seat 5,000 to 6,000 people “right in the front door of the White House” with “100,000 people in the back” watching on large screens.
Allen expressed mixed feelings about potentially competing on the card, stating, “I can’t imagine the security, the behind the scenes, how much stuff’s really going to happen.” The additional protocols and heightened security measures could add mental pressure before fighters even step into the octagon. “It’s like all the security and the protocols, all that extra s**t in your mind before you have to go out there and fight,” Allen explained.
