Donald Trump has promised to spotlight the UFC’s White House fights as a key event in the festivities for America’s 250th anniversary next year, though he still faces challenges in securing a major figure’s support.

Renowned podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who played a significant role in last year’s election by interviewing Trump for nearly three hours and endorsing him just before the vote, recently joked about Trump’s ambitious UFC plans.

“The incredible Dana White is constructing an arena, and they plan to host eight or nine championship matches—the most significant fights they’ve ever organized,” Trump explained, detailing the proposal to hold these matches on the White House lawn on June 14. “Each one is a championship bout, and each one is a legendary fight. White is even saving some fights for six months to showcase them for the 250th anniversary.”

During his latest show, Rogan interrupted his producer and UFC fighter guest Brendan Allen, expressing disbelief: “What were you just saying? I stopped you because it sounds so outrageous.”

Rogan continued, questioning the feasibility: “First off, there are only eight weight classes, so how could there be nine title fights? It would mean every weight class is fighting for a title, which is just crazy.”

Joe Rogan has questioned the logistics around Donald Trump’s UFC White House plans

Trump, speaking earlier this week, said there could be as many as nine title fights in DC

‘If they don’t do (heavyweight champion) Jon Jones at the White House, I think it’s a travesty. At the White House? Come on.’

As Rogan read about plans for up to 100,000 fans to be able to attend the event, he added: ‘What kind of f***ing security are they going to have for this?’

He asked Allen if he wants to fight on the card, to which he said ‘not really’. Rogan laughed and said: Not really? Doesn’t surprise me. A lot of weird pressure, security, protocols, all the extra s*** in your mind before you go out and fight.

‘Also, you’re fighting outside. What if it’s hot and muggy? That’s gonna effect people.’

Allen said he saw an outdoor fight in Louisiana once where fighters struggled to adapt in the heat and were slipping due to sweat on their bodies and the canvas,

‘Louisiana, you could cut that air,’ Rogan said. ‘Who knows what is going to happen? I guess they will probably have to have some sort of a roof over it but what if it’s like 98 degrees outside? It’s June in DC, DC gets hot in the summer.’

Rogan’s comments come after he revealed how ‘odd’ Trump would sometimes call him out of the blue to talk while discussing the president with another guest, tech billionaire Jensen Huang.

Huang, the founder, president and chief executive of Nvidia, was recounting a time when he was with Trump while he was discussing UFC event at the White House when the President suddenly decided he wanted to call Rogan.

As well as an acclaimed podcaster, Rogan is a highly respected analyst of the UFC

Rogan is close with UFC President, Dana White, who will help to run and stage the event

‘He’s like a kid. He’s like a 79-year-old kid,’ Rogan said. ‘He’s an odd guy. Just very different than what you’d expect from him, very different thank what people think of him. 

‘And also just very different as a president. The guys just calls or texts you out of the blue. Also when he texts you, he makes the text go big.’ 

Huang agreed, admitting that he was left surprised by Trump after meeting with him for the first time.    

‘One-on-one, President Trump surprised me,’ he said. ‘He’s an incredibly good listener. Almost everything I’ve ever said to him, he’s remembered.’

Rogan said that he did not support everything that Trump did in office, adding: ‘People only want to look at negative stories or negative narratives on him.

‘I mean you can catch anyone on a bad day. there are a lot of things he does that I don’t think he should do. I don’t think he should say to a reporter, “Quiet, piggy.” That’s pretty ridiculous. 

‘Also, objectively funny. It’s unfortunate that it happened to her, I wouldn’t want that to happen to her but it was funny. But he’s an interesting guy. A lot of different things wrapped up into one person.’