Having been so outspoken about his desire to avoid speaking to fighters who had just been knocked out, it was surprising to see Joe Rogan approach a visibly dazed Daniel Cormier just moments after the UFC 214 main event came to an end.
Cormier had, minutes earlier, been stunned by arch-rival Jon Jones and suffered the first TKO defeat of his career.
Footage has since emerged of ‘DC’ struggling to maintain his balance when he returned to his feet and, clearly concussed, he had a microphone put to his mouth while tears streamed down his face.
Don't kick a man when he's down https://t.co/TgARThvl9r
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) July 30, 2017
“What can you say at all about this and the rivalry between you and Jon?” Rogan asked.
Cormier’s response lacked the lucidity that we’re used to hearing from the now-former UFC light heavyweight champion and Rogan came in for plenty of criticism for taking it upon himself to interview the defeated fighter.
Daniel Cormier's post-fight interview was rough https://t.co/CK1PPr1SD2
— TPS (@TotalProSports) July 30, 2017
In the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White revealed that it was nobody’s decision but Rogan’s to speak to Cormier.
“They told Rogan not to do an interview with Cormier. But he did it anyway,” White told reporters.
As the dust settled on the promotion’s biggest card this year, Rogan took the time to reflect on his decision and acknowledged that it was a massive mistake.
The UFC colour commentator took to social media on Sunday evening to issue a classy and considered apology to Cormier, as well as anybody who was offended by the interview, and vowed never to do it again.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXLXbyjnWXF/?taken-by=joerogan&hl=en
“My apologies to D.C. And to everyone else upset at me for interviewing him after the fight,” Rogan wrote. “In all honesty, I was kind of in shock and I don’t think I realised what I was doing until I had a mic in my hand and I was talking to him.
“I’ve said that I don’t want to interview fighters after they’ve been KO’ed and then I did it to someone that I care a great deal about. It was 100% my fuck up and no one pressured me to do it.
“I posted a series of tweets about it on Twitter but I know some of you folks only use Instagram or Facebook so I thought the right thing to do is post it here as well.
“I was beating myself up about it all night, and whenever something like that happens it’s always my sincere intention to apologize and express my honest feelings. It’ll never happen again.
“It’ll never happen again.”
