Rogan Rejects Canadian UFC Event Over What He Calls ‘Terrible’ Government

Joe Rogan has no plans to attend UFC 315 in Montreal this May, and it has everything to do with Canada’s leadership. The longtime UFC commentator and influential podcast host said he’s not comfortable traveling north while the current government is in power.

“I don’t go to Canada anymore,” Rogan said on a recent podcast. “I’d rather go to Russia.”

His decision highlights growing frustration with what critics call Canada’s slide into authoritarianism. Rogan referenced the trucker protests during the pandemic as a breaking point — a moment when the government showed it was willing to shut down dissent by force.

While he praised the Canadian people as “awesome,” Rogan said he could not support a country where the government cracks down on civil liberties with no accountability. His remarks reflect a deeper concern about the trajectory of Canada’s policies.

This isn’t the first time Rogan has spoken out about Canada. He’s criticized the nation for being “on another level” when it comes to woke ideology and censorship. His refusal to attend a UFC event is being interpreted by many as a protest rooted in principle.

President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade disputes with Canada and his comments about making it a U.S. state have only fueled tensions. Trump appeared on Rogan’s podcast in 2024, shortly before reclaiming the White House.

UFC 315 is scheduled to feature major title fights, including Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena and Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot. But Rogan’s absence from the broadcast will mark a rare moment in the sport where one of its most recognizable voices stays silent — not due to scheduling, but as a matter of conviction.

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