As the MMA community crushes Joe Rogan for his post-knockout, immediate in-ring interview with a on Saturday night, we ask: Does he deserve it?
This past weekend at UFC 214, Jon Jones beat Daniel Cormier to reclaim his light heavyweight championship belt. The outcome, a disorienting kick to the head, is simply part of this sport. The pounding of DC’s head into the mat, also, is part of this sport. And post-fight interviews, are part of this sport as well. Mixed martial arts is a violent sport. Point blank.
After the crushing defeat, UFC commentator, Joe Rogan, did his customary in-octagon interview with Jones, the newly crowned king. He then proceeded to do the one thing he claims to hate; he interviewed the freshly knocked out, Daniel Cormier.
Now the emotional toll of losing a belt that you have always doubted what was yours, and most likely a concussion put DC in an emotional state not fit for an interview, and everyone watching knew it.
Joe Rogan’s Apology
Rogan abruptly ended the talk and finished off his night. Over the weekend, backlash arose for him even conducting an interview in such a state. While Rogan has said many times on his podcast that he does not like interviewing knocked out fighters, he did so anyhow. However, in the days following, he went on to apologize to Cormier and expressed genuine concern, as he always does. Here is his series of brutally honest and humbling tweets:
My apologies to @dc_mma and to all of you upset by my interviewing him after the fight. In all honestly I was kind of in shock.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) July 30, 2017
I don't think I realized what I was doing until I actually had a mic in front of him. I've said I don't want to interview KO'ed fighters
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) July 30, 2017
And then I wound up doing it to someone I care a great deal about. D.C. Is a great man and the whole thing was surreal.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) July 30, 2017
I was beating myself up about it all last night. It'll never happen again. My apologies to D.C. And to all of you.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) July 30, 2017
Again, no one asked me to do it. It was 100% my fuck up. Like I said, I was kind of in shock.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) July 30, 2017
After such an apology, why are we going to continue to hold it against him?
Previously, he made a similar “mistake” and interviewed Alistair Overeem after being put down by heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic. Unfortunately, this one is much more relevant, though. We can agree that he did make a HUGE mistake and this will linger in his head next time a fighter is knocked out cold. I can guarantee this won’t happen again.
Let’s just give our favorite combat sport commentator a break!
