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UFC head honcho Dana White has always been fiercely loyal to the promotion he helped turn into a billion-dollar empire. But even for someone as steadfast as White, there have been moments where his loyalty to his allies has been put to the test. One such moment unfolded in 2014, right after the women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey successfully defended her title for the fifth time against Alexis Davis.
As Rousey basked in the glory of her victory, the post-fight stage was set for the usual celebratory interviews. But things took a sharp turn when a member of the broadcasting team whispered something to commentator Joe Rogan, prompting him to ask Rousey an unexpected question. That question instantly sparked tension in the room, and White, standing nearby, shot Rogan a death stare that could freeze lava.
What was the question that made White bristle so visibly? Fast forward nearly a decade, and former UFC fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen has brought the infamous moment back into the spotlight. In a recent interview, Sonnen revealed that the question involved a suggestion for Rousey to face a specific opponent—a matchup that White wasn’t keen on, especially given his protective stance over Rousey at the time. Sonnen went further, drawing parallels between that moment and the ongoing issues in the men’s bantamweight division, where similar tensions over matchmaking have surfaced.
What question did Joe Rogan ask Ronda Rousey?
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In his recent YouTube video, Chael Sonnen discussed Newly crowned bantamweight king Merab Dvaluishvili’s actions, who has been busy these days continuously denying the rising doubts surrounding Umar Nurmagomedov’s title shot. Suddenly, Sonnen recalled the situation involving Ronda Rousey, Joe Rogan, and Dana White. He noted, “Somebody overstepped and told Rogan in his ears to ask Ronda, ‘Ask Ronda right now in front of the world if she’ll come in on short notice.’ referring to the UFC 177 event where Bethe Correia faced Shyan Baszler. “And he wanted to know if she would do it.”
Sonnen added, “When Joe Rogan, was caught off guard but responded, ‘Yeah I’M sure I could.”‘ Sonnen further disclosed how furious was Dana White was, even though he didn’t how it in front of the cameras. Behind the scenes, he expressed his anger, stating, “Dana White was furious. He expressed his anger backstage, saying, ‘that this was not how they do business.’ He made it clear that not only would Ronda not be doing that fight, but he also would not even offer that fight, she should never have been put in that position.”‘
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Joe Rogan and Dana White | Credits: Getty
Even though UFC Boss was furious with his team, he wasn’t upset with Joe Rogan or Ronda Rousey. His main frustration was directed elsewhere. To find out who UFC head honcho Dana White was displeased with and what he disclosed after the event, scroll down the article.
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With whom is Dana White upset?
What’s your perspective on:
Did Joe Rogan cross the line with his question to Ronda Rousey, or was Dana White overreacting?
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Fans, after witnessing Ronda Rousey’s astonishing 16-second knockout of Alexis Davis at UFC 175, never imagine they would see another memorable event, but it was a disappointment for the promotion. However, this one was not a proud moment for Rousey or Dana White. During the post fight coverage, a mistake by broadcasting and production team led Joe Rogan to ask Rousey a controversial question that could jeopardize the upcoming UFC pay-per-view event in California.
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Embarrassed by his team’s actions, Dana White expressed his frustration in the post fight interview, stating, “I wasn’t upset with Joe Rogan; I was upset with the (broadcast) truck telling him to tell Ronda that she’s going to fight again. That wasn’t true; that was some (expletive) that somebody made up back there. It was the biggest idiotic move in the history of our production team.”
What are your thoughts on Chael Sonnen’s remarks? Do you think that’s the only reason Dana White later distanced himself from Ronda Rousey in the promotion? Drop your opinion below.
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Debate
Did Joe Rogan cross the line with his question to Ronda Rousey, or was Dana White overreacting?