Joe Rogan still looks back on the days when UFC title fights took place without fans in the arena.
Of the 12 events scheduled before that card, five will be held at the Meta Apex.
The venue first opened in June 2020, just as sports were adjusting to the pandemic era. Since then, it’s played a role in several big moments.
Although it might have surprised some that it’s still being used regularly, Rogan has always appreciated what the venue offered during a challenging period for everyone involved.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Joe Rogan would pick the Apex over the atmosphere of iconic combat sports locations
Beyond the matchups themselves, a lot of fans feel disconnected from events at the Meta Apex because it simply doesn’t capture the same energy as a full arena.
The UFC is working on ways to address that, but for Rogan, those early fights still stand out because of how unique they were.
He compared it to some of the sport’s most famous venues, saying there was something special about its setting at that particular moment in time.
Speaking on episode #2468 of his podcast, Rogan said: “My favourite was during the pandemic, we had fights at the UFC Apex with no crowd. It was insane. World championship fights with no crowd…”
“There’s no one else there, it’s silent. It’s amazing. That’s my favourite. There’s something about when you’re watching a big world title fight like in Vegas or Madison Square Garden… but my favourite is the Apex.”
Rogan brought up Francis Ngannou’s rematch against Stipe Miocic as an example and explained how experiencing that without a crowd felt completely different from any other fight night he’d covered.
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