Joe Rogan Confirms He Will Not Commentate UFC 249
UFC color-commentator Joe Rogan has distanced himself from potentially commentating on next month's UFC 249.
At present, the status of the event remains up in the air as the UFC look to nail down a venue and location that would allow them to overcome some of the barriers that are in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.
Despite all of their sporting rivals having closed down operations until further notice, the world's premier mixed martial arts organisation have seemed fully set on maintaining some degree of normalcy - even if that means holding a major PPV behind closed doors.
It's a stance that has earned Dana White and co. criticism to no end from those on the outside who feel as though the promotion are being irresponsible given the circumstance.
Now, the sport's most recognizable commentator gave his take on the entire situation - speaking during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience (via Express.co.uk) and explaining his intention to stay at home on April 18th.
"The UFC is talking about putting on a fight on April 18th. I don’t know how they’re gonna do that.
"I don’t know if they’re gonna be able to do that in the United States.
"They’re talking about doing it in a place with less than 10 people, just an open arena."
As for the expectation that he will be taking his place in the commentary booth if the event does go ahead, Rogan made a point of distancing himself from the possibility of making an appearance, stating the following.
"I guess someone’s gonna commentate it [but] it’s not gonna be me - and they’re gonna be duking it out in an empty place. And they’re gonna try to do that on the 18th.”
They could definitely [hold the event]. The UFC has the capability of doing that.
"The thing is, how are they going to make sure nobody has it?. You’re going to have to test everybody.
"And if someone has it, do you let them fight? What if they have it and they’re like Idris Elba and they have no symptoms but they’ve got the corona? What if Khabib has the corona? Or what if Tony has the corona, does Khabib even fight him?”
As things stand, it does appear as though the UFC are fully set on putting on the UFC 249 event no matter what it takes - with UFC president Dana White taking nothing less than a hostile stance against those within the media who have questioned his stance.
For his closing comments on the subject, Rogan joked that the fight is, in fact, cursed and the narrative that has existed around finally getting these two into a cage together is in some ways putting pressure on White to make this fight happen.
“This fight is so cursed! This is how Dana feels. This is why Dana’s trying so hard to make it happen even if there’s only 10 people in the room.”
