Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC announcer Joe Rogan during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Rogan has been a fixture in MMA culture ever since his debut at UFC 12 back in 1997. Over the years, he has become the voice of the UFC, known for his passionate reactions, sharp commentary, and undeniable influence on the sport alongside fellow analysts like Daniel Cormier, Michael Bisping, Mike Goldberg, and Laura Sanko.
However, Rogan has occasionally sparked controversy with his unconventional takes, such as suggesting the Octagon be transformed into an NBA-sized court for more space or proposing that strikes to the back of the head should be legalized. Recently, he found himself in the crosshairs of former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, who questioned his actual combat experience. And now another MMA icon in the form of Valentina Shevchenko has stepped in to defend the longtime commentator.
Valentina Shevchenko Praises Joe Rogan as an MMA Expert and Positive Influence
In a recent interview with Bert Kreischer, Rousey was asked what it would take for her to consider a return to the Octagon. The 38-year-old joked that she might do it if Kreischer was willing to put his house on the line.
She said, “I will beat the shit out of you in your backyard for this house. Let’s go….Right now. Now or never.”
Kreischer then mentioned that he had been messaging Rogan, asking how long he would need to train to stand a chance against Rousey. That’s when she delivered a sharp response. “He wouldn’t know,” Rousey said. “He’s not an expert, he’s a fan with an audience.”
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Ronda Rousey fired shots at Joe Rogan 😬
“He’s not an expert, he’s a fan with an audience. He’s never fought. Taekwondo is not fighting.” pic.twitter.com/CTuEi0Q7zM
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) October 30, 2025
Kreischer tried to defend Rogan by pointing out his background in competitive Taekwondo, but Rousey doubled down. She boldly claimed, “He never fought. That’s not fighting.”
And just a couple of days after Rousey’s explosive comments, long-time reigning 125lbs champion Valentina Shevchenko took to social media to defend the UFC commentator.
‘Bullet’ responded to a clip of the podcast on X, writing, “I see Joe Rogan as a huge expert of Martial Arts, a noble man, hunter, sportsman, and a good example for youth!”
I see Joe Rogan as huge expert of Martial Arts, noble man, hunter, sportsman, and good example for youth! https://t.co/12C44V5uGL
— Valentina Shevchenko (@BulletValentina) November 3, 2025
As for Rogan’s combat sports background, the longtime UFC commentator boasts an impressive resume. He won the Massachusetts State Championships in Taekwondo for four consecutive years and holds a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the legendary Jean Jacques Machado, as well as a 10th Planet BJJ black belt from Eddie Bravo.
Rogan has been training in martial arts since 1996, earning widespread respect within the MMA community. Legendary UFC fighters such as Georges St-Pierre and Michael ‘Venom’ Page have also praised Rogan over the years for his deep MMA knowledge and technical insight.
While his political views and some of his takes on MMA can be polarizing, there’s no denying that Rogan has been an integral part of the sport’s story since its early days. It will be interesting to see how Rousey responds to Shevchenko’s defense of him.