Joe Rogan, the famous UFC commentator, has caused a stir when he announced that he will not attend the UFC 315 event taking place in Montreal, Canada on May 10. In a recent podcast, Rogan shared: “I will not be there. I am not going to Canada anymore. I would rather go to Russia.”
Rogan’s decision stems from his disagreements with the Canadian government’s policies, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and trucker protests against mandatory vaccinations.
New York Post
In addition, tensions in trade relations between the US and Canada, along with President Donald Trump’s controversial proposals to annex Canada as the 51st state of the US, also contributed to Rogan’s decision. Despite criticizing the Canadian government, Rogan still expressed admiration for the Canadian people and called on the two countries to resolve their differences, describing the current conflict as “silly”.
Rogan’s absence from UFC 315 marks the second time he has missed a UFC event in Canada, having missed UFC 297 in Toronto in 2024. UFC 315 will feature title fights including Belal Muhammad’s welterweight title defense against Jack Della Maddalena, and a women’s flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot.
Rogan’s decision has sparked controversy and speculation among the UFC fanbase, and raised questions about the influence of national politics and policy on sports and entertainment.