The Joe Rogan ExperienceJRE MMA Show #16 with Brendan Schaub
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 1:35
Joey Diaz tweet backlash, MMA media clicks, and “where the line is”
Joe and Brendan react to a controversy sparked by Joey Diaz’s crude comments about a UFC fighter, debating whether MMA outlets are legitimately reporting news or just chasing clicks. They also explore how humor lands differently depending on perspective, especially for the person being joked about.
- 1:35 – 4:56
Joey’s texting era and the upcoming Joey Diaz + Yoel Romero podcast chaos
The conversation shifts from the controversy to Joey Diaz as a personality—now texting more—and the potential madness of having Joey on with Yoel Romero. Joe and Brendan speculate on language barriers, translation, and why Joey’s instincts make him uniquely entertaining.
- 4:56 – 7:36
Great offstage entertainers: Bryan Callen, club dynamics, and the Improv stage layout rant
Joe and Brendan praise Bryan Callen’s ability to dominate a room socially, then pivot into comedy-club talk. Joe goes on a detailed rant about the Improv’s stage setup—especially the piano—and how venue design can hurt a show.
- 7:36 – 12:41
Shaq as a DJ, Russell Peters’ real turntable skills, and what even counts as a ‘DJ’
A tangent about celebrities DJing turns into a serious (and funny) discussion of DJ culture and gatekeeping. Joe explains Russell Peters’ passion for old-school vinyl technique and contrasts it with laptop-based EDM performance.
- 12:41 – 16:21
Extreme lifting videos and the CrossFit danger debate (high reps, bad form, big risks)
Watching strength-sport clips leads to injury horror stories and a broader argument about CrossFit-style programming. Joe references Steve Maxwell’s critique: certain explosive lifts aren’t designed for high-rep fatigue, where technique breaks down and consequences can be catastrophic.
- 16:21 – 21:36
Training alternatives: yoga, fake martial arts jokes, and buying home cardio equipment
Brendan talks about a hectic schedule disrupting training, prompting discussion about mixing routines and staying consistent. They riff on Taekwondo/Aikido “McDojo” humor, then get practical about Peloton vs. assault/echo bikes and building a home setup.
- 21:36 – 26:40
Fasted cardio, too much coffee, keto fallout, and the mental game of consistency
Joe and Brendan get into fasted cardio and the psychological reward of doing hard things when you don’t want to. Brendan admits his extreme coffee + fasting habits backfired, leading to meds and dietary changes, while Joe emphasizes momentum and recovery signals.
- 26:40 – 31:59
Sauna vs. steam science, arena cold floors, and brutal Brazil/Abu Dhabi heat stories
Heat therapy talk turns into a breakdown of sauna benefits (heat shock proteins) versus steam rooms and why dry heat can go hotter. They also discuss how fight venues built over ice create freezing conditions for fighters, plus travel stories from Brazil and Abu Dhabi events.
- 31:59 – 35:33
Barefoot running, plantar fasciitis fears, and the disgusting callus-cutting video
A discussion about barefoot/minimalist running and foot strengthening spirals into plantar fasciitis warnings and adaptation timelines. Jamie pulls up a grotesque clip of a man cutting massive calluses while a dog eats them, derailing the room into horrified laughter.
- 35:33 – 49:08
Brian Ortega’s rise, Holloway matchup talk, and what makes Ortega’s guillotine special
They pivot hard back to MMA: Brendan describes knowing Ortega “before he became Ortega,” and the emotional whiplash of picking against friends. Joe and Brendan analyze Ortega’s submission mechanics, evolving striking, and the tactical questions against Max Holloway (including Holloway’s foot injury timeline).
- 49:08 – 1:02:35
Cyborg dominance, thin 145 roster problems, and the Amanda Nunes super-fight argument
Women’s MMA takes center stage: they break down Cyborg’s destructive power, the lack of true 145ers, and why some matchups feel unfair. They revisit Gina Carano vs. Cyborg footage, discuss PED “caveats,” and debate whether Nunes has the tools (and durability) to challenge Cyborg.
- 1:02:35 – 1:06:36
Steroids, ‘let them juice’ jokes, and how striking styles translate from kickboxing to MMA
A broader PED/testing discussion branches into Bellator/Rizin nostalgia and the idea that some organizations effectively look away. Joe then uses Cro Cop as a case study: explosive, single-shot striking can translate better to MMA than highly technical kickboxing styles because takedown threats alter stance and rhythm.
- 1:06:36 – 1:34:15
Mega-cards, fantasy matchmaking (Jones–Lesnar), Canelo meat tests, and judging reform proposals
They build dream UFC cards (Stipe–DC, Jones–Lesnar, Ortega–Holloway, Cyborg–Nunes) while riffing on money fights and spectacle. From boxing (Canelo/Triple G, clenbuterol-in-meat claims) they pivot to combat-sports judging: incompetent scoring, financial consequences for fighters, and concrete ideas like expert remote judges with replay/stat access and larger panels.
- 1:34:15 – 2:06:46
Fight-week chatter: Ferguson–Khabib anxiety, UFC 222 reactions, and sparring KO cautionary tale
They run through upcoming and recent fights, especially the fear of Ferguson–Khabib falling apart yet again. They also discuss UFC 222 moments (including the Lombard late-shot controversy), and close on training culture—condemning hard sparring that ends in unnecessary knockouts posted online.
