UFC Champion Pushes Back After Ronda Rousey Criticizes Joe Rogan

On The Bertcast podcast , former UFC Champion Ronda Rousey joked around with host Bert Kreischer about how long it would take him to train enough to beat her in a fight. The conversation took a sharper turn when Bert brought up Joe Rogan — asking what the longtime UFC commentator might think. That’s when Rousey let her thoughts fly.

Rousey didn’t hold back. ‘He wouldn’t know,’ she said. ‘He’s not an expert — he’s a fan with an audience. He never fought.’ When Kreischer reminded her that the podcaster had competed in Taekwondo, Rousey doubled down, saying, ‘That’s not fighting.’

That’s when another UFC champion — the flyweight division queen — jumped in to set the record straight. In a composed and confident response, Valentina Shevchenko came to Rogan’s defense, calling him ‘a huge expert of martial arts, noble man, hunter, sportsman, and good example for youth.’

Her words quickly began circulating across social media, where fans praised Shevchenko’s respectful tone while acknowledging that Rousey’s blunt honesty had clearly struck a nerve.

Many also pointed out Rogan’s real martial arts background, noting that he’s a BJJ black belt under world champions under Jean Jacques Machado and also holds a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu black belt from Eddie Bravo — with several fans saying, check your facts, Ronda.

The moment added a fresh chapter to the ongoing discussion about Rogan’s place in the sport — both as a commentator and as a martial arts figure — proving that even years after stepping away from the Octagon, Rousey still knows how to shake things up.