Nearly six months removed from his bout with Kimbo Slice June 19 at Bellator 138, Ken Shamrock is still hearing it from the critics.
After surviving a rear-naked choke attempt from the UFC Hall of Famer in round one, Slice scored a TKO win following a scramble back to the feet. While the actual stoppage really isn't a point of contention, the manner in which Slice survived the choke raised the eyebrows of many, most significantly UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
Reacting to the bout on his podcast the following morning, Rogan commented that he believed the fight looked "fake" and "suspect" while explaining his reasoning by citing technique.
Shamrock was taken aback by Rogan's comments in June, saying they could have cause irreparable damage to his legacy and "ruin his life."
Speaking candidly with Bobby Razak, Shamrock doesn't sound any less hurt by Rogan comments and the attention he's received via his fans.
"When someone like that, who has a trusted following, they're trusting him to know what he's saying," Shamrock said of Rogan. "Trusting him to be honest and to have true information to back it up whatever he's saying so he doesn't hurt anybody. These people fall in behind him and say, 'We're with you, Joe Rogan because we believe that you're not going to say anything that's not true.'
Shamrock admits he understands why some may believe it impossible he could ever have lost a fight to Slice, but says Rogan needs to be help accountable for his insinuations.
"Even to this day I don't understand why he said what he said," said Shamrock. "I don't. Unless it was just something that came out of his mouth. I can understand why people would say that [the fight was fixed.] I do. Because of the type of fighter that I am and the strengths that I have and the strengths that Kimbo doesn't have, I understand that. But being somebody in Joe Rogan's position, they don't have hiccups like that. They don't say things that they're thinking out loud and say them on the radio.
"You've got to be held accountable for that. Just like a fighter if he throws a punch after the bell. You've got to be held accountable for it. He should not have said that. He should have at least talked to me first and gotten my opinion and what happened. Then he can understand why it happened. For him to say that and to try to hurt me, I hope it wasn't that, but if it is, it's sickening. No one should have the right to have a radio station that just wants to reach out and hurt people when they feel like it. It's not fair."
Speaking directly to Rogan, Shamrock says the commentator should have reached out to him before commenting on the bout.
"Joe Rogan, I don't know why you said what you said. You haven't even given an explantation for it, but it's wrong. You're on there and you have people who are supposed to trust in what you're saying. When you say something that you don't have any proof of, none whatsoever, of what you're saying, and then it's going to hurt somebody's credibility, you should be held accountable for that.
"Don't be hiding behind your mic and saying things that are not true. I would never lose to him. I don't want to lose to him, but just like anybody else, when you do, you have to swallow the pill and move on. You shouldn't have said that. You were wrong."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Wrong fight. Police are investigating an incident involving Bellator lightweight champ Will Brooks and the "Pitbull" Freire brothers after Brooks alleged he was jumped in the fighter hotel.
#freenickdiaz. Nick Diaz's NAC penalty could be reduced to 18-month suspension and a $100K fine.
Rumble gets his way. Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader headlines UFC on FOX 18 in Newark.
Not Mexico. Not Brazil. The rematch between UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez looks like it could be taking place Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The climb back to Reebok. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones lands his first new sponsor since his suspension.
MEDIA STEW
Free fight: Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia.
Fight Network previews Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson III.
Inside the Octagon with Ariel Helwani.
Max Holloway makes his case for a title shot against either Jose Aldo or Conor McGregor.
Highlights from Martin Svensson vs. Thanh Le on TUF 22.
Imagine if Rampage prank called Conor McGregor.
Long watches.
UFC Belfort vs Henderson 3 Care/Don't Care Preview
...
...
TWEETS
Major Beef.
Pitbull brothers showed me what cowards they are. They jumped me while I was on the phone with my mom.
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015
Punch me while I'm being held back by your people. Cowards
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015
I've never had to sucker punch or jump anyone I held things on my own but these cowards aren't built like real men
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015
Will Brooks is a liar. He hit Patricky first and came at me, I went after him too and my first punch landed. We were separated.
— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) November 4, 2015
He was a man of his word and faced the consequences. Now act like a man and tell the truth. pic.twitter.com/duGEbX9jRK
— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) November 4, 2015
I'm still pretty and still focused on my fight even though these cowards jumped me. We have video
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015
Thank you to all my fans checking to make sure I'm ok. I'm just fine and will go out there Friday and put on for my people. #andstill
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015
After authorities are able to check out footage I will make sure everyone can see what those cowards are really made of.
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015
What really happened? Who's telling the truth? Next on @jerryspringer
— Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) November 4, 2015
Now that my hotel is crawling with cops...I think Im going to clean my room and take a long walk
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) November 4, 2015
Excited?
. @Anthony_Rumble let's do this!
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) November 5, 2015
Stay outta my lane, all gas no breaks... Don't ask me anything, don't tell me anything, let me do me and let me put even more work in.
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) November 5, 2015
I'm very excited to announce my next fight VS Jake Ellenberger, January 30th 2016 in New Jersey!... https://t.co/ESMbPHmgfI
— Tarec Saffiedine (@tarecfighter) November 5, 2015
#amezing news Ansinha's fight @ninaansaroff vs @JustineKish January 2. Vegas #ufc195 pic.twitter.com/x26w8qcqTF
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) November 5, 2015
Speculate.
The Russian is coming.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 5, 2015
OK.
— malki kawa (@malkikawa) November 5, 2015
Buds.
@CarlosCondit good training this morning . you're feeling like a World Champion can't wait to watch
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) November 4, 2015
@AndreiArlovski congratulations on the show! Hope many more roles to come if you choose. Great seeing we have futures in other careers too
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) November 4, 2015
Two Russians an American AND a Mexican RT @NurmagomedovMMA: Cardio w/ @moggly_benitez @islam__mamedov https://t.co/vLXnFXkUII @MusclePharm
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) November 5, 2015
No language barriers in kicking ass and taking names
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) November 5, 2015
If you're interested.
@LouNeglia @ringofcombat @ufc episode 2 of Lookin for a Fight. I'm excited!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) November 4, 2015
Home alone.
Hopefully the Ufc will find a higher ranked fighter sense I won't be fighting my man Neil magny Jan 2nd. Happens for a reason..
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 4, 2015
@KelvinGastelum nah it's all good Brotha.. You that MAN. So go out there and do work.
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 5, 2015
Coach.
Who is the toughest 2nd PE coach on the planet? Me! Any challengers? Join ur local @PTA. #school #sports pic.twitter.com/EY6uNYbbrB
— Frank Shamrock (@frankshamrock) November 4, 2015
Busy day.
Real talk the whole way home with @natediaz209 and @cody_nolove We need our own talk show. Nate is... https://t.co/AjJXFEGrh5
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) November 5, 2015
After weeks of back & forth banter on IG I've decided to fire @danawhite and take over @ufc.... https://t.co/AyOp1y1dRK
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) November 5, 2015
Dang.
A kid just wanna eat lol @dethrone VC: @yancymedeiros pic.twitter.com/9b9cPXZtZ8
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) November 4, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Nov. 4 2015)
Ryan Bader vs. Anthony Johnson at UFC on FOX 18
Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine at UFC on FOX 18
George Sullivan vs. Alexander Yakovlev at UFC on FOX 18
Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Joaquim Silva at UFC on FOX 18
Tony Martin vs. Felipe Olivieri at UFC on FOX 18
Nina Ansaroff vs. Justine Kish at UFC 195
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.