Valentina Shevchenko Defends Joe Rogan Against Ronda Rousey’s Insults

Women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko talks positively about Joe Rogan's value and influence after Ronda Rousey's harsh comment.

Valentina Shevchenko Defends Joe Rogan Against Ronda Rousey’s Insults

Valentina Shevchenko supports Joe Rogan following Ronda Rousey's comments (via X)

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Joe Rogan is among the most influential figures in combat sports, thanks to his long-standing UFC commentary career. His insightful analysis and humor have earned him massive respect from fighters who often appear on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. However, not every athlete admires Rogan’s opinions, and one notable critic happens to be former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

Rousey recently went viral after appearing on a podcast where she openly questioned Joe Rogan’s credibility as an MMA expert. She boldly claimed that Rogan was merely an MMA enthusiast with a massive audience rather than a genuine authority. Rousey further argued that Rogan’s Taekwondo background doesn’t count as real fighting since he never competed professionally in MMA. 

As expected, her comments triggered backlash online, with many fans criticizing the veteran for disrespecting one of MMA’s most respected voices. Interestingly, current women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko publicly defended Rogan on social media. 

I see Joe Rogan as huge expert of Martial Arts, noble man, hunter, sportsman, and good example for youth!

Valentina Shevchenko via X

Rogan began his martial arts journey at a young age, first training in Karate before later transitioning into Taekwondo competitions. He became a skilled Taekwondo practitioner, winning multiple state championships and earning a black belt, showcasing exceptional kicking power. His spinning back kick is extremely famous in the world of MMA, and veterans like Georges Saint-Pierre have credited him.

Rogan also trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under renowned coaches Jean Jacques Machado and Eddie Bravo, achieving a black belt. Though he never competed professionally in MMA, his deep MMA knowledge shaped his analytical approach to fight commentary and fighter interviews.

As a longtime UFC commentator, Rogan revolutionized fight broadcasting by adding technical insights and transforming audience engagement. Shevchenko has always expressed deep respect for Joe Rogan, often praising his knowledge and contributions to the sport of MMA.

Despite their mutual admiration, Shevchenko has surprisingly never appeared on The JRE podcast, something fans have often pointed out online. For now, the fighter is more focused on her upcoming superfight with the former flyweight champion, Zhang Weili. 

UFC veteran reflects on Ronda Rousey’s recent rant on Joe Rogan 

During her prime, Ronda Rousey was unstoppable, dominating opponents with lightning-fast submissions and defending her bantamweight title multiple times. She became a massive pay-per-view superstar, drawing millions of fans worldwide and earning admiration from UFC CEO Dana White and Joe Rogan.

Ronda Rousey fighting Holly Holm
Ronda Rousey fighting Holly Holm (via X)

Rogan often praised her skills, calling her one of the most influential fighters ever, and considered himself a friend of Rousey. However, after her shocking loss to Holly Holm, Rousey claimed Rogan turned his back on her and failed to offer genuine support.

Apart from Rogan, Rousey also criticized MMA fans, accusing them of being ungrateful and disrespectful toward legends once they lose. Following her statements, experts like Chael Sonnen weighed in, analyzing Rousey’s emotional response and her complex relationship with MMA fans.

Ronda said about Joe Rogan..Everybody hates me? No, they don’t. Nobody’s ever thinking about you. It’s not personal… they don’t really hate you, and they don’t really cheer against you. That’s the part you got wrong. They were never with you, and they never loved you. And there’s nothing mean about that. It’s called being a fan. She’s having a hard time accepting what happened to her. 

Chael Sonnen via YouTube 

Joe Rogan has firmly denied those accusations, maintaining he always respected Rousey’s accomplishments and never criticized her downfall publicly. However, following her recent controversial statements, the veteran commentator has yet to issue any response or clarification regarding Rousey’s remarks. Nevertheless, Rousey has once again managed to stir the MMA community, reigniting debates about loyalty and respect in MMA.

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