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JRE MMA Show #159 with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

Joe sits down with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, a mixed martial artist, co-host of "The Jaxxon Podcast," and entrepreneur. https://linktr.ee/rampagejackson4real

Joe RoganhostQuinton "Rampage" Jacksonguest
Jul 8, 20243h 3mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Rampage Jackson on Pride’s chaos, steroids, aging, and fighting again

  1. Joe Rogan and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson spend a long-form conversation reminiscing about Rampage’s early career, his wild days in PRIDE, and the mob-controlled Japanese fight scene, including yakuza encounters and cultural differences in Japan.
  2. They break down iconic moments like Rampage’s legendary Arona slam, PRIDE-era steroid use, Jon Jones’ oblique kicks, and the evolution of MMA from one-style specialists to well-rounded athletes supported by the UFC Performance Institute.
  3. Rampage opens up about personal turning points—jail time, anger management, a powerful religious experience, health misdiagnoses, stem-cell therapy, and weight issues—while discussing life after fighting, podcasting, and potential boxing matches with Rashad Evans or Shannon Briggs.
  4. The discussion also branches into fighter safety, CTE, PED ethics, bad weight cuts, American food, COVID-era medical corruption, and the likelihood of aliens and hidden advanced tech, all wrapped in their typical unfiltered, comedic back-and-forth.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

PRIDE fostered both legendary fights and a wild, mob-influenced environment.

Rampage describes yakuza bosses in suits, fighters bowing in hallways, non-existent steroid testing, and how Dana White discovered PRIDE’s contracts were essentially worthless beyond the video library.

Certain techniques may be legal but likely shorten careers and should be reconsidered.

Rampage argues Jon Jones’ oblique kicks to the knee should be illegal due to long-term damage, paralleling back-of-the-head strikes, and calls for a Rampage-style ruleset that bans them.

Enhancement ethics in sports should be context-specific, not one-size-fits-all.

They argue steroids might be acceptable—or even beneficial—in non-combat sports like baseball or cycling, or for aging athletes under medical supervision, but are unethical when secretly used in full-contact fighting.

Weight cutting and “post-fight freedom” eating are silent career killers.

They connect extreme cuts (like Pereira’s 40+ lbs) and yo-yo weight gains to long-term metabolic damage, joint issues, and diminished punch resistance, citing examples like James Toney, Ricky Hatton, and their own experiences.

Fighter personalities under the lights can differ drastically from the gym.

Rampage says he often looked bad in training but transformed into “Rampage” on fight night, explaining how some gym killers freeze under pressure while others rise when the lights come on.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

Everybody thought I was on steroids in PRIDE, but you can look at my body and tell I wasn’t on that shit.

— Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

That Arona slam might be the hardest anybody’s ever been hit in this sport.

— Joe Rogan

I’d rather lose an exciting fight than win a boring fight.

— Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

Say what you want about Uncle Dana, but he did a lot for this sport. Without him this wouldn’t be possible.

— Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

Science is always supposed to be questioned. What they did during COVID was silence legitimate experts because they didn’t fit the narrative.

— Joe Rogan

Rampage’s early career, PRIDE days, and Japanese fight culture (including yakuza influence)Iconic fights and knockouts: Arona slam, Wanderlei wars, Cro Cop, Fedor, Vitor, Crazy Horse, Gaethje–Holloway, Pereira’s reignPEDs, TRT, steroid eras (PRIDE vs UFC/USADA), and ethics of enhancement in different sportsAging fighters, injuries, stem cells, weight cutting, diet, and long-term health/CTE concernsJon Jones, oblique kicks, rule changes, glove design, and fighter safety debatesRampage’s personal evolution: jail, temper, religious “born again” moment, fatherhood, career choices, and podcastingBusiness and structure of MMA: UFC vs PRIDE/Bellator/PFL/ONE, PI resources, promotion gaps, and fighter fame

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