For weeks, fight fans wondered if Joe Rogan would finally make an exception and show up in Canada for UFC 315. Montreal hadn’t seen a show of this size in years, and with a welterweight title fight on the line, the event had all the makings of a classic. But the JRE host did not give a definitive answer, or at least fans hoped he would change his mind on international events. Was he going? Was he skipping it? Everyone wondered. But now. Rogan finally broke his silence on his podcast and made his stance clear. So, what did he say?

The moment slipped in casually on JRE #2316,  during a talk with his longtime friend and bowhunting partner, Cameron Hanes. They weren’t even discussing UFC at first. They were delving into the fallout from Rogan’s heated on-air conversation with Douglas Murray, which covered everything from Israel to Churchill to what makes someone worthy of a microphone. At that point, Hanes said, “You’re not even going to Brazil for another UFC fight,” and Rogan shrugged, “Yeah, exactly. I don’t go to Canada.” This direct shot can zip fans’ speculations on his Canada UFC appearance.

When Hanes added, “Not traveling out of the country,” Rogan replied with something that really stuck: “It’s like-you know-it’s not what I’m interested in doing. I don’t have to.” That line hit different for sure. After all, it clearly revealed that for the UFC commentator, it revealed the intent of the veteran MMA analyst. The JRE host’s absence from UFC 315 isn’t only to avoid international flights or stay at home with his elk meat and sauna regimen. It’s part of a larger design. Joe Rogan has made it clear in recent years, particularly following the Murray clash, that he will not play by anyone else’s rules.

Murray had pushed him into a box, questioning why Rogan provided publicity to guests with “dangerous” beliefs and even claiming he wasn’t going to the places he mentioned. Rogan’s response was a subtle refusal: he doesn’t need to prove himself by turning up somewhere he doesn’t want to be. Still, the UFC moves on. Dominick Cruz is joining Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier to call the action in Montreal, with Brendan Fitzgerald on the ground. As for Joe Rogan, he is busy dropping brutal verdicts and exposing the tactics of his enemies.

Joe Rogan reveals the tactic behind James Murray’s attack

The conclusion of their debate did not signal the end of the tension. After all, after Rogan finished that episode with Murray, he was not just shaken but also processing. Several weeks later, that processing evolved into a sharp, calculated response. While he’s sitting out UFC 315, he’s not sitting quietly. His most recent podcast session became the setting for a different type of fight, one in which he exposed the strategy he believes Murray used to discredit him completely. To the JRE host, it was all a setup.

He recalled how the debate quickly deviated from its intended course. Murray did not appear to be interested in delving into the true horrors of the Israel-Hamas conflict, let alone confronting the reality on the ground. Instead, the journalist, according to Joe Rogan, attempted to trap him within an intellectual screening framework. “He used tactics rather than facts,” Rogan stated. “He instantly went for the imbalance card—said I didn’t have enough pro-Israel voices.” That move, in Rogan’s opinion, was a deliberate pressure point. Douglas Murray was attempting to control the narrative, according to the host.

However, Rogan’s frustration did not end there. What truly irritated him was the thought that Murray, or anyone else, could decide who deserves to be heard and who does not. He was outraged. “It’s not about quotas,” he added, clearly annoyed. “It’s about honest conversation.” And it was clear: the real battle for Rogan isn’t about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it’s over who gets to decide what conversations are valid. Douglas Murray, in his opinion, tried to redefine his purpose. And that’s a line Rogan isn’t willing to let anyone cross. What do you think? Is Rogan in the right in this situation? Let us know in the comments.