Similar to Dana White, Joe Rogan is not in favor of the idea of holding UFC events in open-air venues. He has highlighted a significant issue that could pose a serious challenge for fighters competing at the White House on June 14.
Construction is underway on the White House lawn, with the installation of an octagon-shaped cage on the South Lawn. The venue is expected to accommodate 5,000 spectators.
While Dana White has stated that neither rain nor snow will halt the UFC Freedom 250 fights, lightning is the only factor that might necessitate a temporary pause in the event until conditions are safe to resume.
Earlier this month, White mentioned on a podcast that insects and flies could potentially be a nuisance for the participants during UFC Freedom 250. To mitigate this, he has requested the team to set up fans near the stage.
However, Joe Rogan has identified another pressing concern that the UFC needs to address urgently.
Joe Rogan Worried About Fighters Suffering from Extreme Heat and Dehydration on June 14
During his podcast, Joe Rogan stated his opposition to outdoor fighting altogether, asserting that UFC championship bouts should exclusively take place in climate-controlled arenas.
Rogan further emphasized that the promotion should consider constructing an arena, as extreme temperatures could negatively impact the fighters on June 14, given the high probability of Washington D.C. experiencing “hot as f*ck” weather.
“The White House thing is odd. I don’t like the idea of fighting outside at all… I just don’t think you should compete in a world championship fight in a non-controlled environment. It should be inside an air-conditioned arena. Like, you wouldn’t ask them to play world championship basketball game outside on the sun. That would be crazy… Build a fu*king roof. You’ve got all the money in the world, right?… Build a 4,000-seat arena. Imagine if someone loses a fight because it’s too hot outside. Imagine if that becomes a factor. Imagine the dehydrated fighters.”
In the meantime, most fighters on the card are undergoing rigorous training camps to acclimate to the intense heat. They are aware that if the weather is unforgiving on June 14, their fights will be considerably more challenging.