Fight fans may be calling for Ronda Rousey to face Invicta featherweight champ Cris Cyborg, but UFC commentator Joe Rogan has some reservations.
While the UFC women’s bantamweight champion has competed at 145 pounds in the past, Rogan believes Cyborg’s unfortunate PED history needs to be taken heavily into consideration.
According to Rogan, there are problems booking Rousey against Cyborg at any weight.
“Let’s look at this rationally,” Rogan said on his podcast. “Let’s say we know for sure, because we don’t know anything for sure, but let’s say for sure Ronda is not juicing. Let’s say we also know for sure that Cyborg might be on something. That she might be on something to make 145 [pounds]. Then, are you OK with it? Are you OK with it if they both fight at 145 and one person is naturally bigger and might be on something?”
Rogan admits there may be a double standard to how we perceive the risk of Rousey competing in a questionable booking, one we wouldn’t assume for men.
“This is my question: Do you have a different opinion about this with women than you do with men?” said Rogan. “Here’s a perfect example. Chris Weidman, a dominant champ just like Ronda, if he was going to fight Vitor Belfort and we knew that Vitor might be on TRT, I still wouldn’t have a problem with it. I don’t think Weidman would have a problem with it, either. I think Weidman would be like, ‘I’m still going to f**k this guy up.’ That’s the point, it’s a different fight. Vitor off the s**t or on the s**t.
“That’s the question. If [Cyborg’s] capable of doing something that’s not natural to stay at 145 or get up higher than 145 into the 170’s, then how do you feel about the fight? Then it becomes a different fight. What if Ronda loses and then Cyborg tests positive?”
Rogan buys into the notion Rousey is held to different standards, not that’s he’s comfortable with it, himself.
“This is the sexist in me,” said Rogan. “I have more of an issue with it, for some reason, with women. I’m not comfortable with it. What I’m saying is I’m not even comfortable with my opinions on it. Why do I have a different opinion if it’s women and the woman was on something? I don’t know why.”
As for where the fight happens at all, Rogan doesn’t understand the pressure for Rousey to punch above her weight.
“This idea that Ronda has to move up? She doesn’t,” said Rogan. “Why does she have to do anything? She’s the champ. This is not a matter of [Cyborg] not being able to [make 135 pounds], it’s a matter of her not taking any of the steps to attempt to do it. If you really want to do it you hire Mike Dolce and you put up a video of you making that weight. ‘Hey I’m weighing in. 135. See, I can do it. Ronda, let’s do this bitch. I want my title.’
“Bam. Biggest fight ever.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘Completely untrue.’ Dana White calls Tito Ortiz’s claims on Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg ‘a total lie.’ ‘In no way, shape or form did we offer her a fight against Ronda at Cowboys Stadium.’
GOAT. UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum says he’s not sure Fedor Emelianenko deserves an immediate title shot, but is open to a rematch if he signs with UFC.
‘This kid is just starting.’ Jose Aldo tells UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw to pump the brakes on calling for a superfight.
‘It hurt to watch.’ Chad Mendes says that with a full camp, he beats Conor McGregor ‘every single time.’
Not happy. Andre Pederneiras fires back at Brendan Schaub over his comments on Brazilians, wants Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor drug tested at least 36 times before fight.
MEDIA STEW
Highlights from Glover Teixeira vs. Ovince Saint Preux.
Amanda Nunes finishes Sara McMann.
Highlights from RFA 28.
Nieky Holzken vs Raymond Daniels at GLORY 23.
Floyd Mayweather has fond memories of Dana White.
TTTHS.
Long watches.
UFC Fight Night Nashville: Post-fight Press Conference
…
Submission Radio #61 Josh Koscheck, Ronda Rousey’s Coach & Mom, Jimmy Smith + UFC Nashville
TWEETS
See how the pros reacted to UFC Fight Night: Nashville.
Victory lap.
#AllGloryToGod https://t.co/wdNv4VA4wn
— Beneil Dariush (@beneildariush) August 9, 2015
10 career 1st round finishes in 14 wins and 3 in the UFC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) August 9, 2015
That’s what getting hit by a 280lb guy will do to you. Have a lot to work on. Not my best performance but better pic.twitter.com/bNcdeuaVBI
— Jared Rosholt (@JaredRosholt) August 9, 2015
Thank god everything went the way we planned. I want to say thank you to my coaches, @ninaansaroff… https://t.co/P60KgzxrE4
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) August 9, 2015
Well it wasn’t quite the win I wanted but the most important thing is we dominated a very game… https://t.co/eMWNJCMdud
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) August 9, 2015
I love it https://t.co/6tSqtJ4liU
— U R I A H H A L L (@UriahHallMMA) August 9, 2015
Well that was a scrap. Thanks for everyone’s concern, my balls will be ok. #nashville has been fun!
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) August 9, 2015
That’s how you Handle Business! #UFCNashville #StayChoppin @ufc https://t.co/W4MZ2DjjTK
— Dustin Ortiz (@DustinOrtizMMA) August 8, 2015
thanks for all the support everyone. That was a fun fight. Thank you @ufc @seanshelby. Now to eat some BBQ. Thanks @TrentCotney @Nutrasumma
— Frankie Saenz (@FrankieSaenz) August 9, 2015
I’m on cloud 9 , trained so hard for this and was able to get the knockout in 50 seconds of the… https://t.co/fhutkFSMDE
— Jonathan Wilson (@Jonnybravo2k11) August 9, 2015
Me and coach Ben treating ourselves after the win #UFCNashville pic.twitter.com/oMn5kTvhaB
— Scott Holtzman (@HotSauceHoltzy) August 9, 2015
Better luck next time.
When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, & set sail once more toward your coveted goal.
— Ovince Saint Preux (@003_OSP) August 9, 2015
Great fight with @beneildariush Ill make sure that never happens again 2 me Thx for all the support Wheres the point system for TD defense?
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) August 9, 2015
Both of us love Australia. Tavares?
— Sam Alvey (@smilensam) August 9, 2015
@roynelsonmma not very often. But if that’s a invite I think I could find my way out there.
— Tim Johnson (@tbeartim) August 9, 2015
After the fight selfie.. Im physically fine but the1st loss in my career has been the worst pain….. https://t.co/VyWvrbFlJS
— Geane Herrera (@Pulga_Bites) August 9, 2015
@saramcann welp didn’t go our way but had a great time in Nashville thank you @ufc can’t wait to get… https://t.co/aTiKRHCJjT
— Willie Gates (@WhOopassWilliE) August 9, 2015
OK.
I’m not lying nor is Tito- UFC called my manager last Sunday to see if I would fight Ronda at 135 on December 5 at… http://t.co/pF2VJdRuEU
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) August 8, 2015
Beef.
#SheDontNeed12Rounds @RondaRousey pic.twitter.com/UKBmEAQXBJ
— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2015
… @SugaRashadEvans whatever you are doing isn’t working either, starting to look like @dc_mma pic.twitter.com/bTfvfYBxoa
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) August 9, 2015
@ryanbader @dc_mma I can show up looking like that and still beat the breaks off you. Bader=easy work!
— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) August 9, 2015
.@ryanbader @SugaRashadEvans really bader! U may wanna lay off me. U have bigger issues to worry bout. I guess we will never fight now!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 9, 2015
All natural son. No supplements. How’s the testing in wherever you fight? https://t.co/bW4tqo6eA5
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) August 9, 2015
Just got under someone’s skin. pic.twitter.com/YHLNV89dTx
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) August 9, 2015
@RondaRousey now your not scared of @CrisCyborg are you? pic.twitter.com/zf7BetbDCM
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) August 9, 2015
Get well soon.
Ossos do ofício. || A lot work right there. #teamgadelha #ufc #ufc190 pic.twitter.com/hT3U0YBo2I
— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) August 7, 2015
Throwback.
Long time ago. 2002 #teamnovauniao pic.twitter.com/WgjGSDC1Qw
— THALES LEITES (@thalesleites) August 7, 2015
Yep.
@carloscondit vs @ruthless_rl cant wait to watch these to guys fight! two guys i have the most… https://t.co/nzoDdtH393
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) August 9, 2015
Thank you.
Straight out of DUBLIN!!! https://t.co/uadLNk5gQV pic.twitter.com/a9ao2ih6bw
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 9, 2015
For all you #StraightOutta just No… pic.twitter.com/lhIhKn08nb
— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) August 9, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Aug. 7-9 2015)
Anthony Hamilton vs. Derrick Lewis at UFC 192
Paul Felder vs. Ross Pearson at UFC 191
Reza Madadi vs. Norman Parkeat UFC Fight Night: Duffy vs. Poirier
Clay Collard vs. Andre Fili at UFC 191
Joe Riggs vs. Ron Stallings at UFC 191
Chico Camus vs. Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson
Diego Brandao vs. Katsunori Kikuno at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson
Shinsho Anzai vs. Roger Zapata at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Emmery Myers.
Why is WSOF getting a pass on Rousimar Palhares?
Seemingly lost in all the finger wagging at Steve Mazzagatti and Rousimar Palhares is World Series of Fighting’s role in facilitating this circus.
It has been rather easy for Ray Sefo and Ali Abdel Aziz to revel in the MMA media storm surrounding the fallout of WSOF 22. After all, they are getting an awful lot of coverage for an event placed opposite one of the biggest UFC events of the year. You have Aziz tweeting about “Sefo dropping the hammer” and Sefo coming on the MMA Hour for a personal mic drop moment instead of going to the fighter’s agent or lawyer first, apparently in violation of Palhares’ contract.
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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