JOE ROGAN has revealed the fight he was desperate to see top the UFC White House bill.
Mixed martial arts’ top promotion will stage a historic card at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on June 14 as part of America’s celebrations of its 250th anniversary of independence.
Topping the bill of the ‘Freedom 250’ card is a lightweight title unification bout between full and interim belt holders Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.
For a while, it seemed like top billing would be given to a heavyweight showdown between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira.
Jones and the UFC brass, however, couldn’t come to terms – which paved the way for Pereira to fight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title.
MMA fans around the world were bitterly disappointed that Jones vs Pereira didn’t get over the line, including UFC long-time commentator Rogan.
During a recent episode of his Joe Rogan Experience podcast, he said of the UFC and Jones coming to terms: “I was hoping for that.”
UFC supremo Dana White insists Jones was never in contention to headline the White House card.
That declaration enraged Jones, who has subsequently asked to be release from his contract with the promotion.
“I don’t know why that didn’t happen,” Rogan continued. “I don’t know.
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UFC White House Card In Full
Ilia Topuria v Justin Gaethje – Lightweight title unification fight
Alex Pereira vs Cyril Gane – Interim heavyweight title fight
Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi – men’s bantamweight bout
Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler – lightweight bout
Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus – middleweight bout
Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia – featherweight bout
“I mean there’s Jon’s version, there’s the UFC’s version. I don’t know what was the stumbling block there.”
Jones irked the UFC brass last year by performing a multi-million-pound U-turn on a historic heavyweight title unification bout with Brit Tom Aspinall.
But Rogan was hoping bygones would be bygones and that Jones and White would could come to terms.
He said of Jones and White’s relationship: “I don’t think it’s that bad.
“They certainly could make a deal. I don’t think it’s as bad as say, Francis Ngannou.
Dana does not like him at all and won’t do any business with him, period.”
Rogan’s lamenting of Jones vs Pereira not coming to fruition came after he seemingly expressed safety concerns for the White House event due to the US and Israel‘s current military action in Iran.
The 58-year-old said: “It sounds crazy.
“I know it’s going to be very high security and high stress and weird to have a fight at the White House in the middle of a f***ing war!”
“I would hope the war will be sorted out by June.
“But quite honestly, I’m not confident that’s going to be the case.
“That will be weird, having this very high-profile event where everybody is in one place at one time.”
