Joe Rogan faced a brutal social media onslaught for his laughable short tie during a high-profile UFC event at the White House.
Rogan described the atmosphere at UFC Freedom 250 as "nuts" when he grabbed the microphone, but the internet had already zeroed in on his tie as the evening's biggest spectacle.
He donned a suit for this unprecedented UFC event, but his tie failed to reach his belt line, making it a fashion disaster that quickly became a target for ridicule.
Appearing ringside on the South Lawn, Rogan's outfit became one of the most mocked looks in sports this year. The online jokes were relentless, and the event saw Sean Strickland ejected by Secret Service.
This fashion faux pas occurred during one of the most bizarre nights in sports history.
After a brief rain delay caused by thunderstorms that had been predicted all week, Donald Trump and Dana White emerged from the West Wing to a balcony overlooking the Octagon, greeted by cheers from around 4,000 attendees, primarily military personnel.
The National Anthem rang out, followed by a flyover from the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. Trump and White then walked a red, white, and blue carpet to their seats mere feet from the cage.
When Rogan finally took the mic, he captured the surreal nature of the night: "It's such a scene. It's so surreal. It's so amazing. The energy is in the air. We're outside. We thought it might be called off for rain, but we're good. The whole thing is nuts."
However, he had previously expressed skepticism about the event, voicing concerns on his podcast about outdoor fighting being unsuitable for championship-level competition.
Rogan worried about heat, humidity, and an entomologist's prediction of a 100 percent chance of bugs, including mosquitoes and biting black flies.
Ultimately, he changed his tune, ridiculing critics and proclaiming there was "no more American thing than having a UFC fight on the White House lawn."
The event featured all the traditional elements: The Marine Band played before fights, and Zac Brown performed the national anthem—something unheard at typical UFC events due to its diverse roster.
Bruce Buffer's booming introductions echoed from the cage, his suit decorated with gold stars and mini American flags.
Rogan made an effort to dress appropriately for the occasion but might want to seek advice on tie length before his next appearance.
This incident follows Rogan's candid remarks to Trump about UFC fans' reactions after Knicks supporters booed him.
