A few weeks back, Joe Rogan made a statement saying that he believes Ronda Rousey would beat 50% of the bantamweights in the UFC. This has started a really long (and some say ‘silly’) debate about the UFC women’s champ’s chances against men.
Many people have chimed in, and while some have ridiculed Rogan for such as assessment, the UFC color commentator isn’t backtracking on his statements. In fact, he has reaffirmed his thoughts on this, and detailed it on his podcast. (Transcript via David St. Martin):
“People got upset when I said that I think she could beat a lot of men in her weight class,” Rogan said on his podcast. “They don’t know. They’ve never rolled with a girl who is really good.
“Technique is paramount and her technique is so laser sharp. If she got in there with a guy who doesn’t have that good of technique, just because he’s a man, the physical strength, the benefits of being a male, whatever advantages he may have, aren’t necessarily going to counter the technique that she has when they’re the same weight.”
“She competes at 135 pounds,” said Rogan. “OK, if you deal with her versus a guy at 170 like [former UFC welterweight champion] Johny Hendricks, Jesus, of course that’s a mismatch. Johny Hendricks is a powerful, big strong man and he’d most likely beat her up.
“But talking about a guy who is her weight and then even if he’s physically stronger than her, maybe he can hit harder, but how much of a technical advantage does she have on the ground? She could easily catch you in something in a scramble. Easily. She’s one, two, three, four steps ahead of you.”
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While this battle of the sexes debate is still somehow raging on, it has since been reported that Ronda Rousey’s next title defense is likely going to happen at UFC 190 in Brazil, against Bethe Correia.
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