Joe Rogan is refusing to cross into Canada for UFC 315, saying the country’s government has become too oppressive for his comfort. The longtime UFC commentator said he “won’t be there” and added he’d “rather go to Russia” than Montreal.
The statement came during a recent podcast episode, where Rogan touched on the reasons behind his strong position. He cited Canada’s handling of the trucker protests and what he believes is a pattern of rights violations by the government.
Joe Rogan: “I don’t go to Canada anymore. I’d rather go to Russia.”pic.twitter.com/JJAzTCDZKo
— Department of Government Efficiency News (@DOGE__news) March 24, 2025
“I don’t go to Canada anymore,” Rogan said plainly. “The Canadian government is terrible. The people are awesome, but the government — it’s just awful.”
The podcast host’s resistance to entering Canada appears to go beyond political squabbles. He’s long been critical of the country’s COVID-19 restrictions and what he sees as a culture of government overreach. His refusal to attend the May 10 event is a public act of protest.
Joe Rogan tells Canada to get their shit together and to come back to what we used to be!
He also says Pierre Poilievre makes sense. I'll take that as an endorsement!🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/YUHmnCWiZV
— Joe Anidjar (@PuckDaddy93) March 25, 2025
The timing of Rogan’s remarks aligns with growing friction between the U.S. and Canadian governments. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs and floated the idea of turning Canada into a U.S. state — a suggestion that ignited controversy across the border.
Canadian leaders like Mark Carney have accused Trump of threatening the country’s independence. In response to the proposal, Carney called a snap election and warned of an escalating crisis brought on by “unjustified trade actions.”
Rogan, despite saying he doesn’t support Canada becoming the 51st state, has said the current tensions are “the dumbest” he’s seen. Still, he remains unwilling to normalize relations by visiting, even for major sports events.
UFC 315 features several high-profile matchups, including a title fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. However, Rogan’s absence will mark a rare break in his longtime presence at UFC pay-per-view events.
