Joe Rogan has been a fixture in MMA culture since his debut at UFC 12 in 1997. Over the years, he has become the voice of the UFC, known for his impassioned 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 courted controversy with his unconventional recordingssuch as the proposal to convert the Octagon into an NBA-sized court for more space, or the proposal to legalize blows to the back of the head. He recently found himself in the crosshairs of former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, who questioned his actual fighting 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 one recent interview with Bert KreischerRousey 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 risk his house.
She said: “I’ll beat you up in your backyard in front of this house. Let’s go…Right now. Now or never.”
Kreischer then said he messaged Rogan asking how long he would have to train to have a chance against Rousey. Then she gave a sharp answer. “He wouldn’t know,” said Rousey. “He’s not an expert, he’s a fan with an audience.”
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Ronda Rousey fired shots at Joe Rogan 😬
“He is not an expert, he is a fan with an audience. He has 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 few days after Rousey’s explosive comments, reigning 125-pound champion Valentina Shevchenko took to social media to defend the UFC commentator.
‘Bullet’ commented on a snippet of the podcast on X, writing: “I see Joe Rogan as a huge expert in the field of martial arts, a noble man, fighter, sportsman and a good example for the youth!”
I see Joe Rogan as a huge martial arts expert, a noble man, a fighter, a sportsman and a good example for the youth! https://t.co/12C44V5uGL
— Valentina Shevchenko (@BulletValentina) November 3, 2025
As for Rogan’s martial arts background, the longtime UFC commentator has 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 combat sports since 1996, earning widespread respect within the MMA community. Legendary UFC fighters like Georges St-Pierre and Michael “Venom” Page have also praised Rogan over the years for his deep MMA knowledge and technical acumen.
While his political views and some of his views on MMA can be polarizing, there is 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.
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