Joe Rogan Responds to UFC 249 Cancelation, Says he Was “75%” Ready to Attend Event

Now we know that no one will be attending UFC 249 on April 18th, since the card’s been canceled. But, following news of the event’s cancelation, Joe Rogan reported he likely would have headed to the card.

Rogan responds to news UFC 249 is canceled

Earlier this week, it was looking like the UFC might hold the April 18th event, despite all the restrictions that have been enacted on account of the coronavirus, and the widespread concerns that were voiced about moving forward with the card.

It was reported the UFC had reached an agreement with the Tachi Palace Resort and Casino to hold the event, which is located on tribal lands in California.

But, since California officials have said no organizations should be holding any kind of sporting event right now, the state’s athletic commission wasn’t going to oversee UFC 249. Then, on Thursday, it was revealed that the UFC’s broadcast partner, ESPN, requested the UFC cancel the card.

Well, during a recent episode of Rogan’s podcast, the news about UFC 249 being canceled broke. Here is some of what he had to say about the situation (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“Well, that saves me a lot of thinking,” Rogan said. “Damn, I was 75 percent ready to go. The only thing that worried me is if I contracted something, and then I came in contact with other people.

So what I was gonna do is do it if I could definitely get tested, and then I would have to know the results before I come back. But even then you don’t know.

“I think they made probably a risk assessment and then they made a calculation of what the negative aspects of going against government regulations, in terms of state government, would be.

They’re probably like, ‘We can’t do this.’”

“I was hesitant,” he admitted. “I was like, ‘Hmm, I really want to go.’ I was leaning towards going but I’m like, I don’t want to hear it from people who don’t think it’s a good idea.

I’m not interested in putting myself at risk, but my real concern was how do I know if I contract it and then I bring it back?

How am I gonna know? So the only way I’d be able to do it is to do it, and then be in quarantine until I get tested…”

What’s next for the UFC?

Now it remains to be seen when and where the UFC will hold an event. In the statement announcing the cancelation of UFC 249, the promotion said upcoming cards were on hold as well.

But, since then, Dana White has reported that the promotion’s moving forward with its plan to hold fights on a private island.

As it stands right now, considering what transpired with UFC 249, it’s hard to imagine that happening. But, you never know.