The Joe Rogan ExperienceJRE MMA Show #117 with Marlon "Chito" Vera
CHAPTERS
Tattoo pain stories: back pieces, inner thigh agony, and awkward moments
Chito and Joe kick off with a long, funny breakdown of which tattoo locations hurt the most, from elbows to neck/throat to the inner thigh. Chito shares an especially awkward and painful story about getting tattooed near his groin and how that compares to fight pain.
How Chito built his tattoo collection (Ecuador vs SoCal) and chasing legendary artists
They shift into who did Chito’s tattoos and why Southern California is a hub for top-tier work. Chito describes working with high-level artists like Mark Nava and Mister Cartoon, plus the process of getting an appointment.
Mister Cartoon’s studio, getting ‘too high,’ and coping strategies for tattoo sessions
Chito describes the atmosphere inside Mister Cartoon’s Santa Monica shop—celebrity art, curated design, and vibe. They compare smoking vs drinking during tattoo sessions and how substances change sensitivity and heart rate.
Early tattoos, career identity, and respect for UFC matchmakers under pressure
The conversation turns to tattoos as identity and how people once warned Chito about employability—until fighting became his job. From there, they segue into how stressful the UFC matchmaker role is and why fans misunderstand the job.
Alternates, brutal weight cuts, and why fighters ‘should walk away’ after too many KOs
Joe and Chito discuss the insanity of training full camps as alternates and the physical cost of weight cuts. They also use Cody Garbrandt’s recent KO loss to talk about cumulative damage, the brain ‘shutting off,’ and when retirement becomes necessary.
No off-season mindset: immigrant mentality, constant training, and building tools outside camp
Chito explains his philosophy that fighting isn’t a seasonal sport and how he trains year-round. He emphasizes using off-camp time to add skills, while camp is for sharpening and executing a plan.
Cardio philosophy: sprints vs long runs, mental sharpening, and championship-round stamina
They dig deep into conditioning theory—explosive intervals versus long aerobic work—and how Chito uses long runs for visualization and mental clarity. He explains how a year-round cardio base supports fast, explosive camp work.
From ‘nothing’ in Ecuador to street fights, cowboy farm life, and the first martial arts attempts
Chito describes growing up with minimal training resources—living-room mats and improvised practice. He tells vivid stories of childhood street fighting (even arranged for laughs) and his rural farm upbringing that shaped his personality.
First real training at 16: obsession, family doubts, and the path to the first MMA fight
Chito explains how he finally began formal training through a local jiu-jitsu gym and became fully committed. He describes the first chaotic underground MMA bout in Quito—unsafe cage setup, no warmup, altitude—and how winning by armbar locked in his obsession.
Making the UFC: LATAM TUF call, leaving home, and early coaching manipulation
Chito recounts the phone call that changed his life—selection for The Ultimate Fighter: LATAM and training at Jackson’s. He also describes a toxic coach relationship, mind games, and the moment he realized he needed to leave Ecuador to grow.
Jackson’s reality check: 10 weeks of getting wrecked, learning through reps, and UFC matchmaking chaos
Chito details how unprepared he felt at Jackson’s—being dropped, tapped, and outclassed daily—and how that grinding built resilience. Joe connects it to the importance of training partners at the right level and the UFC’s tendency to throw fighters into tough matchups quickly.
UFC debut emotions: Mexico City pressure, daughter’s surgery motivation, and altitude experience
They revisit Chito’s UFC debut in Mexico City—massive crowd energy, tears during the walkout, and the emotional weight of fighting to fund his daughter’s medical needs. They also talk about how altitude at venues like Mexico City and Quito impacts performance.
Nutrition, rehydration, and why weight cutting is ‘sanctioned cheating’
Chito explains his day-to-day diet, his nutrition team, and his disciplined approach to staying near fighting weight. Joe argues for more weight classes and ending drastic cutting, while Chito details his rehydration protocol and criticizes post-weigh-in junk meals.
Recovery stack: sleep discipline, hyperbaric oxygen, sauna protocols, and surfing as balance
They cover Chito’s recovery habits—PT work, massages, hyperbaric chamber sessions, and daily sauna use—plus the sleep rules he adopted after hearing Matthew Walker. The chapter ends with surfing, ocean humility, and meeting childhood heroes like Kelly Slater.
Psychedelics: microdosing, Stoned Ape Theory, and Chito’s DMT intention-setting experience
Joe and Chito discuss mushrooms as performance/mental tools, the difference between microdosing and full trips, and why intention matters. Joe explains Terence and Dennis McKenna’s Stoned Ape Theory as a possible driver of human cognitive evolution, and Chito recounts a vivid DMT experience involving his late grandfather.
Social media and mindset: ignoring comments, staying calm before fights, and performing without ego
They explore how online feedback distorts self-perception and why both avoid reading comments. Chito explains his approach to trash talk (including O’Malley), the danger of fighting angry, and how confidence differs from arrogance.
Officiating and integrity: judging errors, fouls (eye gouges), point deductions, and PED/TRT debates
The conversation turns to systemic MMA issues: inconsistent judging, how grappling should be scored, and why fouls need immediate point deductions to stop ‘strategic cheating.’ They react strongly to a blatant eye gouge incident, then broaden into PED/TRT history, USADA loopholes, and the complexity of GOAT debates across eras.
