CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 1:54
NFTs, digital collectibles, and what fans actually want
Joe and Julianna open with a humorous, confused-but-curious chat about NFTs, wallets, and why digital items can be so valuable. Julianna riffs on the idea of creating NFTs that deliver real fan perks and memorabilia rather than random images.
- •Joe questions what an NFT wallet even is and why NFTs have value
- •Beeple as an example of a legitimate digital artist vs. low-effort NFTs
- •Julianna brainstorms giving super-fans real items (fight bra, hand wraps, tickets)
- •Discussion of what makes memorabilia meaningful to fans
- 1:54 – 3:47
Processing the Nunes upset: shock, disbelief, and the moment it turned
Joe congratulates Julianna on what he frames as one of the biggest upsets in combat sports history. They relive how wild it felt to watch her stand in the pocket and out-jab Amanda Nunes, plus the commentators’ (especially DC’s) stunned reactions.
- •Rogan compares it to the Serra–GSP upset and argues it may be bigger
- •Why Nunes’ aura of intimidation made the win feel impossible
- •DC and Joe’s frantic commentary reactions during the fight
- •Joe expected Julianna’s path via grappling—surprised by her standup success
- 3:47 – 6:10
Game plan and mindset: “meet fire with fire” and ‘drown her’
Julianna explains why she believed her style was a perfect matchup and why she refused to fight scared. They discuss her long campaign to get the title shot and how the delays helped make Nunes an even bigger target.
- •Styles make fights; Julianna’s commitment to fighting in the pocket
- •Her confidence and the ‘drown her’ narrative
- •Five-year pursuit of the matchup since UFC 200; being skipped in line
- •Ronda/Cyborg wins elevating Nunes’ GOAT status and magnifying the upset
- 6:10 – 9:12
The emotional cost of fighting: family stress, guilt, and investment
Julianna describes how much the fight affected the people around her—her dad losing weight, friends panicking, bettors reacting. She feels both pride and guilt about the emotional rollercoaster she put loved ones through.
- •Fighting as entertainment that forces emotional investment
- •Seeing the ‘outpour’ after the win and feeling unexpectedly guilty
- •Joe on why the fight fully captured the audience’s attention
- •How underdog wins reshape what fans believe is possible
- 9:12 – 12:26
Choosing the hard road + the catastrophic knee injury story
The conversation shifts into adversity and identity—Julianna’s tendency to choose the tougher path. She recounts her brutal knee injury in training, the extent of the damage, and the fallout after calling Dana White in the moment.
- •Her personality: choosing the hard route and resisting comfort
- •Injury details: leg stuck, knee caves sideways; tore 4 of 5 ligaments
- •Anger/headspace contributing to reckless training intensity
- •Dana White’s reaction and unintended negative attention on her gym
- 12:26 – 15:20
Chaos, performance, and the ‘fighters thrive in turmoil’ idea
Joe and Julianna debate whether chaos can enhance performance, using Tyson’s prime as an example. Julianna rejects leaning on excuses, emphasizing professional consistency and alignment of mind/body as champion expectations rise.
- •Coach narrative: Julianna ‘fights better when mad’ vs. her disagreement
- •Tyson as example of elite performance amid personal chaos
- •Julianna’s stance: chaos is not an excuse—pros must perform regardless
- •Joe on champion-level need for recovery, rest, and mental alignment
- 15:20 – 19:02
What’s next: rematch plans, TUF coaching, and selling a rivalry without theatrics
They discuss the inevitable Nunes rematch, ideal timing (summer), and the idea of coaching The Ultimate Fighter to build hype. Both agree they don’t need manufactured drama, though they acknowledge TUF can create it naturally.
- •Julianna wants the rematch to silence ‘fluke’ talk and harassment
- •Summer timeline and the July/Vegas dream scenario
- •TUF as a six-week commitment and rivalry accelerator
- •Examples of chaotic TUF seasons (Conor/Urijah, Ronda/Miesha, Chael/Wandy)
- 19:02 – 25:52
COVID, masks, monoclonals, and lifestyle-based health arguments
The topic veers into COVID experiences, mask skepticism, and treatment debates. Joe emphasizes open scientific discussion and lifestyle factors like fitness and vitamin D, while Julianna voices broader distrust and conspiracy-leaning concerns.
- •Julianna’s COVID symptoms and recovery; loss of taste/smell anecdotes
- •Monoclonal antibodies, access issues, and Joe’s friend’s experience
- •Debate over narrative control vs. scientific debate and peer review
- •Lifestyle emphasis: obesity, vitamin D, supplementation, fitness
- 25:52 – 29:55
Supplements and brain health: NSF-certified products and psilocybin microdosing
Julianna discusses her supplement sponsors and what she uses for training, hydration, collagen, and ‘brain cushion’ products. They also talk about psilocybin microdosing, legality, decriminalization, and potential benefits for brain trauma.
- •Designs for Sport supplements; importance of NSF certification for fighters
- •Hydration, amino acids, collagen; ‘Tin Man’ feeling without it
- •Wesana sponsorship and microdosing psilocybin for brain injury recovery
- •Legal landscape: decriminalization in Seattle/Oregon and stigma misconceptions
- 29:55 – 33:42
Pacific Northwest roots vs. Chicago reality: weather, culture, and safety
Joe and Julianna compare Seattle/Spokane weather and the mental toll of constant rain. Julianna explains why she moved to Chicago (and why she’s stuck), plus the contrast in safety, winter cold, and local culture/food.
- •Spokane vs. Seattle: mountain range effect, rain, and seasonal depression lamps
- •Why Julianna moved to Chicago and the ‘two weeks’ relationship leap
- •Chicago: harsh winters, crime, gun laws, and a nearby mall shooting story
- •Upside: Chicago friendliness, culture, and dangerously good food
- 33:42 – 44:00
Training logistics and gym ecosystems: Chicago multi-gym grind vs. ATT/Sanford
Julianna describes piecing together a pro camp across multiple Chicago locations and constant driving. Joe contrasts it with one-roof mega-gyms like American Top Team; Julianna drops a bomb that Nunes has left ATT, prompting speculation.
- •Her Chicago training circuit: boxing, MMA/wrestling, BJJ, S&C at multiple sites
- •The cost of commuting vs. one-stop facilities like ATT
- •News: Amanda Nunes leaving ATT to build her own team
- •Florida gym scene comparisons: ATT vs. Sanford MMA and coaching ecosystems
- 44:00 – 51:00
Big fights, weight cuts, and making money: Kayla Harrison, UFC prestige, and contracts
They debate whether Kayla Harrison will come to the UFC and what weight would even work. The conversation broadens into fighter pay, the prestige of UFC titles vs. better money elsewhere, and legacy matchups like Fedor in the UFC.
- •Skepticism about Kayla making 145 (or UFC making new divisions)
- •‘If it don’t make money, it don’t make sense’ as Julianna’s philosophy
- •UFC prestige vs. better pay structures in rival organizations
- •Legacy fights: Fedor’s missed UFC run; business obstacles (M-1)
- 51:00 – 1:01:43
Technical rewatch of Nunes finish: submissions, judging, and why Amanda faded
They revisit the choke finish, whether it was ‘quitting,’ and the importance of submission threats in scoring. Julianna claims she threatened a straight armlock and Kimura in round one and argues submissions should count like near-knockdowns.
- •Details of the rear-naked choke without hooks; ‘under the chin’ confirmation
- •Amanda’s fatigue: damage, psychological pressure of losing, cumulative shots
- •Round one submission threats: straight armlock attempt and Kimura attack
- •Judging philosophy: submission attempts as meaningful offense and danger
- 1:01:43 – 1:06:46
Origin story: late start, rapid rise, and women’s MMA growing pains
Julianna shares how she started at 19 in cardio kickboxing to lose weight, then went pro quickly and entered the UFC early in the women’s era. They discuss how women’s MMA evolved, why Ronda was given a belt, and how injuries/pregnancy delayed Julianna’s path.
- •First ‘official’ punch at 19; weight-loss motivation and night-shift life
- •Minimal amateur/pro fights before the UFC; accelerated development
- •Women’s UFC launches in 2013; TUF run vs. early division marketing realities
- •Career delays: catastrophic knee injury, pregnancy, more injuries
- 1:06:46 – 1:26:33
Camp structure, loyalty to coaches, and building discipline over time
They get granular on how Julianna organizes camps while her longtime head coach Rick Little stays based in Spokane and coordinates remotely. Julianna argues loyalty and a caring coach matter more than fame, and she explains how motherhood and losses reshaped her consistency.
- •Rick Little as the long-term anchor; remote coordination with Chicago coaches
- •Critique of ‘gym jumping’ and importance of a coach who’s invested
- •Staying active after losses (e.g., quick turnaround to fight McMann)
- •Foundation training between camps vs. old habits of partying/off-time
- 1:26:33 – 2:33:52
Fighter pay, negotiation tension, and building a post-fight media career
The back half focuses on money—advocating for fair pay as champ without alienating UFC leadership, and why a middleman matters. Julianna discusses sponsorship help, commentating with Combate Global, and Joe pushes her toward a podcast and UFC commentary opportunities.
- •Challenges of self-negotiating; relationships vs. business realities
- •New management support and sponsor deals improving her income
- •Combate Global color commentary work and learning broadcast skills
- •Joe’s pitch: podcasting as controllable platform + need for women’s perspective in booths
