Joe Rogan typically avoids international travel for UFC commentary, and this stance apparently includes Canada.
UFC 315 is scheduled for May 10 in Montreal, featuring a main event where welterweight champion Belal Muhammad will defend his title against Jack Della Maddalena. The co-main event will see Valentina Shevchenko defending her flyweight title against Manon Fiorot. However, Rogan will not be part of the commentary team for this event.
“I won’t be there,” Rogan stated on his UFC London Fight Companion podcast. “I don’t go to Canada anymore. I don’t. I’d rather go to Russia.”
While it wasn`t entirely unexpected, as Rogan also missed UFC 297 in Toronto in January 2024, this is the first time he has openly expressed his reluctance to travel to Canada.
Rogan previously explained that his decision to limit international fight commentary was primarily due to the extensive travel and time away from his home.
Although a trip to Canada from his Austin residence wouldn`t be excessively long, Rogan seems uninterested in traveling there, possibly due to the current political climate between the United States and Canada.
Recent tensions between the U.S. and Canada have arisen following trade tariffs initiated by former President Donald Trump, potentially leading to a trade dispute.
There was also a lighthearted suggestion, even mentioned in a past conversation between Rogan and Trump, about the U.S. annexing Canada as a 51st state.
“That’s never going to happen,” Rogan chuckled about Canada joining the United States. “That’s so crazy. Asked them to be the 51st state.”
“I had a conversation with Trump about it. He goes ‘I started calling him Governor [Justin] Trudeau just for fun but a lot of people are saying good idea. Maybe it is a good idea!’”
Justin Trudeau, Canada`s former prime minister, recently resigned and was succeeded by Mark Carney, who has been critical of Trump’s trade policies.
“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty,” Carney stated during a press conference.
These US-Canada tensions appear to extend to the UFC broadcast booth, as evidenced by Rogan`s decision to opt out of UFC 315.
Despite Rogan`s absence, Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier are expected to provide commentary, and the UFC will likely appoint a replacement for Rogan for the May 10 event.