Joe Rogan breaks down Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano: ‘The difference in striking…’

Joe Rogan is expecting a classic striker vs grappler matchup when Ronda Rousey faces Gina Carano on Netflix.

The longtime UFC color commentator was cageside for the entirety of Rousey’s career inside the Octagon, but he will have to watch from home when she makes her comeback.

After talks with the UFC did not lead to an agreement, Rousey’s MMA return against Carano was announced for a Netflix event on May 16. Rogan is among those intrigued to see how the two veterans perform after such long layoffs.

Joe Rogan gives Gina Carano a clear edge over Ronda Rousey in striking

Rogan broke down the Rousey vs Carano fight during a recent episode of his podcast, outlining each woman’s main strengths.

Rousey’s knockout loss to Amanda Nunes in late 2016 marked her most recent bout, while Carano has not entered the cage since a defeat to Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce 17 years ago.

Rogan questioned whether the pair have remained as proficient in their respective wheelhouses as they once were. If the answer is yes, he sees a clear edge for ‘Rowdy’ on the ground and an advantage to Carano on the feet.

“Hopefully they’ve had enough time (to prepare),” the UFC commentator said on episode #2466 of the Joe Rogan Experience. “I know there’s a lot of video footage of Ronda training for quite a while.

“She’s doing a lot of judo throws and armbars; she doesn’t look like she’s lost a step. There’s a difference between that and competition. There’s ring rust, there’s a lot of factors.

“Gina Carano was a legit Muay Thai champion. She’s got real power, and she was a very good striker when she was young. How long did she stop training for, right? She did movies…had a lot of success acting.

“When it comes to grappling, you give Ronda a big advantage,” he continued. “But when it comes to Gina, she was a solid striker when she was young. The difference in striking will definitely benefit Gina.”