UFC 300 special event tracker: Joe Rogan gets emotional celebrating historic moment

UFC 300 is an event like no other. and tonight’s card is sure to have the whole entertainment world buzzing.

From Donald Trump to Drake to Halle Berry to Shaq, the UFC has had a long history of celebrity fans cheering from the stands, and the stars are sure to be out for Saturday’s historic pay-per-view event. Add in the shenanigans of the fighters themselves plus whatever special events the promotion has officially set on the schedule, and keeping track of it all can make even the most devoted fight fan’s head spin.

That’s why MMA Fighting is tracking all of the special events, celebrity sightings, and odds and ends of fight night, which you can follow below.

Joe Rogan gets emotional

Joe Rogan has been one of the voices of the UFC for decades and the popular commentator and podcaster couldn’t help but shed a few tears as the event kicked off.

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” Rogan told fellow commentators Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier. “I kept getting up in the middle of the night, ‘It’s happening! It’s just hours away!’

“I’m so fired up. I’ve been here since UFC 12, so just the fact that it became the sport that it is today is beyond my wildest imagination. And to be here for this card with you guys for UFC 300, I’m just blown away.”

7:25 p.m. ET: The King vs. The Baddy next?

After winning a thrilling and bloody battle with Jim Miller, Bobby Green already has his next opponent in mind: Polarizing UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett.

“Paddy [Pimblett], how dare you, you slimy, sugary little snake,” Green said in his post-fight interview. “How dare you say my name? I’m coming after you. July, I’m coming to your backyard, with your people, to kick your ass.”

“The Baddy” is yet to lose inside the octagon, winning his first five fights for the promotion, most recently defeating fan favorite Tony Ferguson at UFC 296. Along the way, Pimblett has drawn plenty of attention to his fights with his brash personality.

Love him or hate him, Pimblett fighting in his home country of England against another respected veteran would certainly have fans invested.

6:45 p.m. ET: The UFC’s international stars make their presence known

The best of the best from across the globe are in Las Vegas for UFC 300.

That list includes interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall (England), two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (New Zealand), and recent bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera (Ecuador).

And let’s not forget UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman representing the good ol’ U.S. of A.

Coleman is set to play a prominent part on tonight’s card as he will wrap the belt around the waist of the winner of the “BMF” title fight between Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway.

Drake bets big on “Poatan”

Drake is at it again.

No stranger to big wagers on UFC fight, the Canadian rapper announced that he’s thrown a six-figure wager down on Alex Pereira in the hopes of earning a nearly $1.2 million payout.

Pereira defends his light heavyweight title against former champion Jamahal Hill in tonight’s main event. Will the fearsome Brazilian striker fall victim to the infamous “Drake Curse?”

Sketch lets everyone know UFC has begun, brother

TikToker and Twitch streamer Sketch kicked things off in succinct fashion, dropping his catchphrase to announce the start of UFC 300.

With over 3 million followers across his social media platforms, Sketch’s words are the kind of endorsement that are key to the UFC reaching an even broader audience.

Triple H pays respect to his TKO partners

Triple H is tuned in to UFC 300.

The WWE executive and longtime sports entertainment star tweeted his admiration for the UFC, his partner under the TKO umbrella, calling it a “big night,” a “blockbuster card,” and “a milestone event.”

That’s hefty praise considering that Triple H and company just celebrated their own historic occasion this past weekend, WrestleMania 40. The two-night professional wrestling extravaganza set WWE records for viewership numbers and you can bet that UFC CEO Dana White is hoping to match that success.