Never one to hold back his thoughts, longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan took some time on his latest podcast to discuss the issues surrounding a potential Ronda Rousey vs. Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino Women’s MMA “Super Fight,” and how those issues can be resolved.
“Let’s look at this rationally,” Rogan said on his podcast. “Let’s say we know for sure, because we don’t know anything for sure, but let’s say for sure Ronda is not juicing. Let’s say we also know for sure that Cyborg might be on something. That she might be on something to make 145 [pounds]. Then, are you OK with it? Are you OK with it if they both fight at 145 and one person is naturally bigger and might be on something?”
Rogan continued, “This is my question: Do you have a different opinion about this with women than you do with men? Here’s a perfect example. Chris Weidman, a dominant champ just like Ronda, if he was going to fight Vitor Belfort and we knew that Vitor might be on TRT, I still wouldn’t have a problem with it. I don’t think Weidman would have a problem with it, either. I think Weidman would be like, ‘I’m still going to f**k this guy up.’ That’s the point, it’s a different fight. Vitor off the s**t or on the s**t.
“That’s the question,” Rogan said. “If [Cyborg’s] capable of doing something that’s not natural to stay at 145 or get up higher than 145 into the 170’s, then how do you feel about the fight? Then it becomes a different fight. What if Ronda loses and then Cyborg tests positive?”
From there, Rogan admitted that his views could be considered sexist, something he is fine with in theory in the sense that he’s thinking first-and-foremost about what is fair, and what is safe.
“This is the sexist in me,” said Rogan. “I have more of an issue with it, for some reason, with women. I’m not comfortable with it. What I’m saying is I’m not even comfortable with my opinions on it. Why do I have a different opinion if it’s women and the woman was on something? I don’t know why.
“This idea that Ronda has to move up? She doesn’t. Why does she have to do anything? She’s the champ. This is not a matter of [Cyborg] not being able to [make 135 pounds], it’s a matter of her not taking any of the steps to attempt to do it. If you really want to do it you hire Mike Dolce and you put up a video of you making that weight. ‘Hey I’m weighing in. 135. See, I can do it. Ronda, let’s do this bitch. I want my title.’
Rogan concluded, “Bam. Biggest fight ever.”
For those interested, you can watch the video of Joe Rogan making these comments, where he elaborates on the above topics and touches on some additional hot-button MMA issues, click ahead to page two.
