Joe Rogan, similar to Dana White, is not in favor of the UFC holding events in open-air venues. He has highlighted a critical issue that could pose a serious challenge for fighters scheduled to compete on June 14 at the White House.
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 an audience of 5,000 people.
While White has indicated that rain or snow will not postpone the UFC Freedom 250 fights, he acknowledged that lightning is the only factor that might necessitate a temporary halt to the event until it is safe to resume.
Earlier this month, White mentioned on a podcast that insects and flies could be a nuisance for participants during UFC Freedom 250. To mitigate this, measures have already been requested to place fans near the stage.
However, Joe Rogan has raised a different, pressing concern that the UFC needs to address immediately.
Joe Rogan Worried About Fighters Facing Extreme Heat and Dehydration at White House Event
During his podcast, Joe Rogan stated his opposition to outdoor fights 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 significantly impact the fighters on June 14. He noted 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.”
Meanwhile, most of the fighters on the card are undergoing rigorous training camps in preparation for the intense heat, understanding that they may face significant difficulties during the fights if the weather conditions are unfavorable on June 14.
One fighter, Justin Gaethje, revealed that he has been incorporating sauna sessions midway through his training to acclimatize to the heat, given that the upcoming White House event is scheduled to be held outdoors without air conditioning.
