Joe Rogan Snubs Canada, Declares He Would “Rather Go to Russia”

Joe Rogan sparked controversy by declaring he would “rather go to Russia” than attend UFC 315 in Canada, highlighting growing tensions amid political friction between the US and its northern neighbor.

Top Takeaways

Joe Rogan has refused to attend UFC 315 in Montreal, stating he’d “rather go to Russia” than travel to Canada.
Rogan’s stance stems from displeasure with Canadian politics, particularly the government’s handling of the Freedom Convoy protests during the pandemic.
This decision comes amid increased US-Canada tensions, including a trade war during Trump’s second term and allegations of Canada becoming increasingly “woke.”
UFC personalities, including Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland, have recently criticized Canadian leadership and policies.

Rogan’s Stance Against Canada

UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan has firmly declined to attend the upcoming UFC 315 event in Montreal, making his position clear during his UFC London Fight Companion podcast. When the event location was mentioned, Rogan responded bluntly, saying, “I won’t be there. I don’t go to Canada anymore, I don’t. I’d rather go to Russia.” His statement has created significant buzz, especially given the current political climate between the United States and Canada.

While Rogan rarely travels internationally for UFC events, his distaste for Canada stands out as particularly notable. This stance isn’t entirely new – Rogan also skipped UFC 297, which took place in Canada earlier. Though he speaks positively about Canadian citizens, Rogan has repeatedly expressed strong disapproval of the Canadian government’s policies, particularly those implemented during the pandemic.

Joe Rogan refuses to commentate UFC 315 in Canada: ‘I’d rather go to Russia’ https://t.co/rWSrxn55Ql

— LowKickMMA.com (@LowKick_MMA) March 24, 2025

Political Tensions Between US and Canada

Rogan’s comments emerge against the backdrop of deteriorating US-Canada relations. During his podcast, Rogan referenced a conversation with President Donald Trump about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state. “That’s so crazy, he asked them to be the 51st state. I had a conversation with Trump about it,” Rogan revealed. Trump allegedly stated, “I started calling him Governor Trudeau just for fun, a lot of people are saying it’s a good idea.”

Current Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau, has called a snap general election, citing a crisis due to Trump’s trade actions. Carney has accused Trump of attempting to undermine Canadian sovereignty. These political maneuvers have further strained relations between the countries, creating a tense atmosphere that extends beyond government into cultural spheres like sports entertainment.

Freedom Convoy Controversy Still Resonates

Much of Rogan’s criticism of Canada stems from the government’s response to the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests. The demonstrators, primarily truckers, rallied against pandemic mandates and restrictions. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s invocation of the Emergencies Act to disperse protesters remains controversial, particularly the freezing of approximately $7.8 million in assets from around 200 accounts linked to the protests.

UFC 315 Proceeds Without Rogan

Despite Rogan’s absence, UFC 315 will proceed as scheduled on May 10 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The event features a welterweight championship bout between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena, plus a women’s flyweight championship bout between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot. The absence of Rogan, one of the UFC’s most recognizable voices, will be noticeable to longtime fans of the organization.

Online reactions to Rogan’s decision have been mixed. Some Canadian fans expressed amusement at his stance, while others criticized what they perceived as an uninformed perspective on Canadian politics. As UFC 315 approaches, the conversation surrounding Rogan’s comments continues to highlight the intersection of sports, entertainment, and international politics in an increasingly polarized world.