Joe Rogan backtracks on previous comments about Ronda Rousey beating male bantamweights

For a time, Ronda Rousey was one of the most dominant athletes in mixed martial arts. Scoring lightning fast submission wins and thudding knockout wins over game opponents, she looked more and more like an unbeatable champion which each consecutive defense of her women’s bantamweight title.

During her reign of dominance, UFC commentator Joe Rogan was one of her biggest advocates, frequently praising her skill, and even suggesting that she could defeat many of the UFC’s male bantamweights.

Now that Rousey’s reign has ended, and she’s experienced back to back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, however, Rogan has decided to backtrack on those statements. On the most recent episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, the Octagon-side commentator explained his choice to amend his previous statements.

“I’m not happy that Ronda Rousey lost but in a way, it makes things easier because there was a bunch of f**kin’ people going, ‘Oh yeah, what about Ronda Rousey? And I made the mistake saying – hyperbole. I’m the master of hyperbole, I exaggerate all the time – I was like, ‘She could probably beat half the men bantamweights in the UFC.’

That’s definitely not true. I shouldn’t have said it at the time, now it’s definitely not true. She could beat a few that aren’t good outside the sport. Look, if she gets guys on the ground she could f**k a lot of people up. Her Judo is 100 percent legit, her armbars are amongst the best in the business but people were always saying that… Thank god now that she’s lost everyone’s relaxed with that.”

What do you think of Joe Rogan’s comments here? Do you think we’ll ever see Ronda Rousey back in the cage? Make your voice heard in the comments. Sound off, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/14/2017.