Nate Diaz has come to the defense of ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith. Smith received a lot of flak for his comments surrounding Donald Cerrone’s loss to Conor McGregor earlier this month. Smith claimed “Cowboy” never showed up and was disappointed at how the fight only lasted 40 seconds. But the main reason for the […]
Nate Diaz has come to the defense of ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith.
Smith received a lot of flak for his comments surrounding Donald Cerrone’s loss to Conor McGregor earlier this month. Smith claimed “Cowboy” never showed up and was disappointed at how the fight only lasted 40 seconds.
But the main reason for the criticism was him saying that Cerrone gave up en route to his TKO defeat to the Irishman.
However, Diaz does agree with some of what Smith said. At the time, the Stockton native notably implied the fight was fixed by calling it fake. And now, he feels Smith deserves an apology as the fight was over before it even began in his view:
“Rogan and Conor should give Stephen Smith a apology he said what it was,” Diaz tweeted. “The fight was over before it started. Get off each others nuts.”
Rogan and Conor should give Stephen Smith a apology he said what it was The fight was over before it started Get offfeachothers nuts
As marvelously as Conor McGregor performed in his 2020 victory over Donald Cerrone, much of the attention was placed on what Cerrone didn’t do as opposed to what McGregor did do. Whenever there’s a Conor McGregor fight, the A-listers come out, including the biggest names in sports media, such as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. Smith […]
As marvelously as Conor McGregor performed in his 2020 victory over Donald Cerrone, much of the attention was placed on what Cerrone didn’t do as opposed to what McGregor did do. Whenever there’s a Conor McGregor fight, the A-listers come out, including the biggest names in sports media, such as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Smith opined that Cerrone looked like he quit during the loss to McGregor and was widely ridiculed for those remarks. Although later that year, Cerrone himself stated that he ‘didn’t want to be there,‘ when everything was still fresh after the fight, Smith’s remarks weren’t taken well by many within the MMA community, including Joe Rogan as you’ll see in the below article published on this day two years ago.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day Two Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 29, 2020, 1:20 PM]
Headline: Joe Rogan Responds To Stephen A. Smith: I Like You, But You’re Wrong
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
Joe Rogan has responded to Stephen A. Smith and he’s sticking to his guns.
Rogan and Smith are in a disagreement over Stephen A.’s assessment of Donald Cerrone’s performance at UFC 246. Smith called Cerrone’s efforts against Conor McGregor, “atrocious” and said that Cerrone looked to have “gave up.”
“Listen Stephen A. Smith, I guess I should respond. You’re a very entertaining guy. Like you a lot and I appreciate the props you gave me in that video, but you’re wrong. ‘Cowboy’ got f*cked up with those shoulders in the clinch. He had Conor’s arms tied up and they’re in tight spaces. Conor dips low and slams this bone of his shoulder into the nose. And he’s at the beginning of the round, Conor’s a f*cking super explosive guy. Super explosive, all muscle. Just f*cking pulled tight at the beginning of the fight and just, ‘Bang! Bang!’ He got off good shots and ‘Cowboy’ was confused.”
Rogan went on to disagree with the notion that Cerrone quit.
“Stephen A. Smith said that he felt like ‘Cowboy’ quit. He did not quit. He got smashed.”
Another problem Rogan has with Stephen A. is that he doesn’t think “Cowboy’s” credibility and status were taken into account with his remarks.
“It’s also who you’re talking about. You’re talking about a guy who has the most fights in the UFC, the most finishes in the UFC, the most head kick knockouts in the UFC, the most bonuses in the UFC. ‘Cowboy’ is a f*cking legend. He is as tough as they come. He’s lost before, every human can lose. Especially you’re fighting guys like Darren Till and Jorge Masvidal and these f*cking animals that he’s fighting. Or Conor, and Conor literally broke his face. He broke his nose and he broke his orbital bone. So Stephen A. Smith responded and then Conor responded. Conor told him to apologize and Conor’s right.”
Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub is the latest to send a message to ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith. Smith created headlines following UFC 246 when he claimed Donald Cerrone gave up in his 40-second TKO defeat to Conor McGregor earlier this month. Those comments rubbed many people the wrong way, including the likes of Joe […]
Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub is the latest to send a message to ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith.
Smith created headlines following UFC 246 when he claimed Donald Cerrone gave up in his 40-second TKO defeat to Conor McGregor earlier this month. Those comments rubbed many people the wrong way, including the likes of Joe Rogan and Conor McGregor.
And although Schaub does appreciate Smith and his work, he felt the comments were disrespectful and that nobody is really tuning in to hear his analysis of mixed martial arts (MMA):
“The MMA community’s not tuning in the post-fight show to see Stephen A. Smith,” Schaub said on his podcast (via BJ Penn). “Stephen A. Smith’s one of my favs, I love Stephen A. Smith. I love him and this, I don’t need this. If he’s on there great, also my only issue with it, do this, you can stay in the UFC stuff what you’re doing, I’m sure they’ll have your back but the problem is just don’t disrespect guys. You can make your point without being disrespectful.
“I’ve learned that the hard way. You say one thing and then guys hear and it sounds like disrespect. I get that but especially if you’re Stephen A. Smith and you’re so new, you’re just dipping your toe in water, don’t sh*t on one of our favs, man.”
Schaub went on to add that someone with more knowledge of MMA would have been preferable to Smith — such as former UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen who already works as an analyst for ESPN:
“Ain’t nobody tuning in to that post-fight show to hear his commentary,” Schaub added. “It would’ve gotten much further if it was Brett Okamoto and Joe Rogan. Why not have Chael [Sonnen] do that? Rogan and Chael?
“What is it, the best combo ever? Do that, do that man. That’d be a phenomenal tag team. Probably the best, the best in the world. There’s no other two people I’d rather listen to on the planet talk fighting than Joe Rogan and Chael Sonnen.”
ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith has been under fire from the mixed martial arts (MMA) community over the past week for his comments about Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246. Smith, who was working the pay-per-view (PPV) event headlined by Conor McGregor and Cerrone, said he was “disgusted” with Cerrone’s performance, which resulted in a […]
ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith has been under fire from the mixed martial arts (MMA) community over the past week for his comments about Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246.
Smith, who was working the pay-per-view (PPV) event headlined by Conor McGregor and Cerrone, said he was “disgusted” with Cerrone’s performance, which resulted in a 40-second TKO loss to the Irishman. This sparked a ton of backlash towards Smith for his comments, as many within the MMA community don’t think he’s qualified to judge or commentate on the sport.
That includes longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who had a lot to say about Smith on his recent podcast. Smith then responded to Rogan by saying the UFC commentator was “wrong on this one,” and he’s willing to debate him on the fight, and his credentials to speak on the sport, any time he’d like. Even Conor McGregor got in the mix by telling Smith to apologize to Cerrone for his comments. Now, Smith is getting some support from some within the MMA community.
Recently, former UFC and Bellator star Chael Sonnen, who worked the UFC 246 broadcast with Smith on ESPN, posted a video on his YouTube channel, which he titled, “Stephen A. Smith is owed an apology…” Sonnen explained that having Smith on the panel for UFC shows is actually helpful for the sport.
“Stephen A. Smith was gracious enough to come on and cover Conor [McGregor] vs. Cowboy,” Sonnen said. “When I tell you “gracious enough,” I don’t know this as an absolute fact, but I don’t believe Stephen A. Smith has a contract to cover MMA. I believe somebody at ESPN said, “Hey, Stephen A., this is a big week, and you’re a big deal, and if you participated it could move us to the next level.” And I have a feeling that Stephen A. said, “Send me to Vegas, I’ll help out.”
“Now the reason I say I do not think that he was hired to do this role is because I can tell you with 100 percent certainty, when ESPN and UFC kicked off, which was on January 18 of last year in Brooklyn Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, I can tell you, for sure, Stephen A. drove to Brooklyn, on his own, and participated in the festivities on the house. As a team player to ESPN, I can tell you that as a 100 percent fact. So when he came out to Vegas, I could be wrong on there’s something to do there, but I do think that the reason Stephen A. has participated, is relevant, because he has participated because he cares and because he helps.
“Stephen A. is helpful, and the one thing that does seem to be missed by many MMA fans, and the fans aren’t wrong, to want to protect the guys – Generally, the fans turn on the guys. Generally, it’s the fans who are going, putting their fingers in somebody’s chest, or kicking some sand in their face. The fans aren’t wrong to want to protect the guys, I just want to make sure that the fans understand, Stephen A. is there because he’s helpful, and because if you are a fighter and Stephen A. is talking about you, it’s a big deal.”
Sonnen then broke down Smith’s comments, and explained that he doesn’t think Smith was trashing Cerrone at all. In fact, he thinks Smith was doing the opposite, and complementing the longtime UFC veteran.
“When Stephen A. Smith goes on ESPN as the highest-rated member of the entire network, which is known as the world-wide leader, because it is, it’s an exciting moment,” Sonnen said. “You also must understand that, when Stephen A. comes on and talks MMA, he is very clear at some point in each one of those conversations to reveal to the audience, “I am not an expert, I am a fan who witnessed something and I’m going to speak about what I witnessed and I’m going to speak about my interpretation and my opinion of what I just saw.” Without question, Stephen A. is skilled and has the credentials to do just that, but he discloses it upfront, and so many people miss that disclosure. Stephen A. ends up in some kinds of headlines over saying he was disgusted by the Cowboy vs. Conor fight.
“I was part of that interview, and before Stephen A. said that, or immediately following that, he did look to Michael Bisping and I, who were his partners up there, and said “You guys are the experts, I’m a fan, I love basketball, I used to do some boxing, but I watch you guys. And here’s what I saw and I’m disgusted at the fact that Donald Cerrone wasn’t able to get off, I’m disgusted at the fact that Donald Cerrone, once he was hit and hurt, did not step back to grab a moment, create some space, or come in and grab ahold of Conor and regain his thoughts.” I think the misinterpretation is that Stephen A. said Cerrone was disgusting, or that Stephen A. found that disgusting. No.
“He was in many ways complimenting Cowboy. He even went on to finish that thought and said ” I know Cowboy knows how to do these things, I know he knows how to fight, I’ve watched him fight 50 men. I’ve watched him win eighteen Of The Night bonuses. I’m well aware he holds 11 distinctions for records within the UFC. I’m disgusted on his behalf that he now has to go and live with this performance where he wasn’t thinking clear enough to either step back to gain his wits or step in, hold, and take a couple of deep breaths.” So just to be clear on the words that were said, at no point did Stephen A. come on and bury Donald Cerrone. That’s just not what happened. It’s just not.”
What do you make of Sonnen’s comments on the Stephen A. Smith situation?
Chael Sonnen is coming to Stephen A. Smith’s defense. A lot was made over Smith’s post-UFC 246 comments. Stephen A. is ESPN’s most popular journalist and personality. When he speaks on certain topics throughout the sports world, it br…
Chael Sonnen is coming to Stephen A. Smith’s defense. A lot was made over Smith’s post-UFC 246 comments. Stephen A. is ESPN’s most popular journalist and personality. When he speaks on certain topics throughout the sports world, it brings in viewers. Still, many in the MMA community were none too pleased with Smith’s take on […]
Sport broadcaster Stephen A Smith got himself in hot water with the MMA community during the aftermath of UFC 246. Speaking post-fight he bashed Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone labeling him a quitter. He also claimed we had learned nothing about Conor McGregor from the fight which lasted just 40 seconds. This prompted huge backlash from the […]
Sport broadcaster Stephen A Smith got himself in hot water with the MMA community during the aftermath of UFC 246. Speaking post-fight he bashed Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone labeling him a quitter. He also claimed we had learned nothing about Conor McGregor from the fight which lasted just 40 seconds. This prompted huge backlash from the MMA community including Joe Rogan and McGregor himself who demanded an apology. The controversial sports presenter has now responded to the Irishman’s requests via social media. Speaking on Twitter, he replied directly to McGregor in several tweets which said.
“Sir, mich (much) respect to the great . My
recollection on what I said is “That’s the way it looked.” Cowboy Cerrone is a
perennial top-10 fighter. Much respect to him for the lengthy career he has
had. Wishing him nothing but the best. But I don’t think it’s unfair to..
“..say that more than 40-seconds was expected from
as tough of an SOB as he is, Conor McGregor. Nor do I think it’s wrong to assume
that there’s no way that’s 40-second fight would take place w/ you vs
Nurmegamedov or Masvidal. We expected more than what we got. Props to YOU for..
“…that. But to know how tough Cowboy is, lots of
fans like myself expected more and I don’t think @joerogan is
right to question my knowledge about a fight just because I wasn’t satisfied
with what I saw. I said what I said and I meant it. It’s possible to do that
and still have…
“Tremendous respect for you Conor McGregor, along with @joerogan. Both of you are fantastic for the @UFC. I wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much without the both of you. I wish you both prosperity in the future. But we clearly disagree about Cowboy’s performance on Jan.18.#RESPECT.”
Sir, mich respect to the great @TheNotoriousMMA. My recollection on what I said is “That’s the way it looked.” Cowboy Cerrone is a perennial top-10 fighter. Much respect to him for the lengthy career he has had. Wishing him nothing but the best. But I don’t think it’s unfair to..
say that more than 40-seconds was expected from as tough of an SOB as he is, @TheNotoriousMMA. Nor do I think it’s wrong to assume that there’s no way that’s 40-second fight would take place w/ you vs Nurmegamedov or Masvidal. We expected more than what we got. Props to YOU for..
that. But to know how tough Cowboy is, lots of fans like myself expected more and I don’t think @joerogan is right to question my knowledge about a fight just because I wasn’t satisfied with what I saw. I said what I said and I meant it. It’s possible to do that and still have…
Tremendous respect for you @TheNotoriousMMA, along with @joerogan. Both of you are fantastic for the @UFC. I wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much without the both of you. I wish you both prosperity in the future. But we clearly disagree about Cowboy’s performance on Jan.18.#RESPECT