Matt Brown disagrees with Ronda Rousey’s claim that Joe Rogan is “not an expert, he’s a fan with an audience.”
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) took aim at the longtime UFC color commentator during a recent appearance on Bert Kreischer’s podcast, where she criticized Rogan’s Taekwondo background. “He never fought,” she said. “That’s not fighting.”
Former UFC welterweight Matt Brown believes that while Rogan hasn’t competed inside the Octagon, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role as an analyst and shouldn’t be dismissed so easily.
“I actually get where she’s coming from with Rogan. He’s not a fighter. Neither is Jon Anik,” Brown said on this week’s episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. “I actually kind of get that part. I don’t know why she’s hating on Joe Rogan. Joe Rogan is extremely knowledgeable. The fact that he’s never stepped foot in the cage doesn’t make him unknowledgeable. Now, I do believe it’s less knowledgeable than someone who has fought, but it’s so strange to me. That’s not the guy to call out.”
While Rogan never competed professionally, Brown believes his deep understanding of the game makes his analysis no less valid.
“He only has an opinion,” Brown said about Rogan. “Until you’ve done something, all of your beliefs are opinions — until you’ve actually done it. You can’t say it’s a fact until you’ve actually done it. So I get where she’s coming from, but again, for one, you’re attacking Joe Rogan — which is the last dude you want as your enemy. He doesn’t give a f*ck, I’m sure, but you don’t want to turn his crowd away — the biggest crowd in America. To disrespect him just doesn’t make sense either.
“He’s been immersed enough in this sport, in all facets of it, and with all kinds of fighters to have a f*cking very educated opinion.”
