Rogan apologizes for calling Aldo's body 'smooth and deflated'

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan created a bit of a firestorm recently when audio footage leaked of him telling a producer that Jose Aldo looked "smooth" and "deflated" during Aldo's introduction at UFC 194.

Rogan and UFC fighter Brendan Schaub discussed Aldo's apparent physical transformation further on Rogan's podcast, prompting Aldo's longtime coach and manager to respond by posting a photo on Twitter favorably comparing Aldo's physique at UFC 194 to that of an earlier fight.

Obviously, Rogan's original comments weren't meant for general consumption, and as such, he posted an apology.

"There was an audio 'leak' from inside the UFC production truck right before Saturday night's fight where I said that Jose Aldo's body looked smooth and deflated, and that I didn't want to jump to any conclusions and that it could have just been from doing a lot of cardio," Rogan wrote on his Facebook page. "I also said he looked nervous. Needless to say this caused a lot of controversy.

"Since then people have posted photos of Aldo recently as well as from this fight, and he looked very similar. So for that, I stand corrected. My apologies for being wrong to Aldo and his trainer Andre Pederneiras. I have nothing but admiration and respect for both of them."

Rogan attached this photo to his post:

Physical transformation or not, Aldo saw his reign atop the featherweight division come to a violent conclusion at UFC 194, as Conor McGregor needed just one punch and a mere 13 seconds to claim the title.

"Aldo is on my short list of all-time favorite fighters, along with Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, GSP, Mighty Mouse, and Fedor," Rogan added. "I would love to see Aldo back motivated for revenge and gunning to regain his title. First though, I'd like to see him rest and recover."