The Joe Rogan ExperienceJRE MMA Show #163 - Protect Ya Neck
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 1:05
Settling on the show name: “Protect Ya Neck” (Wu-Tang energy)
Joe, Matt Serra, and Din Thomas kick off by debating what to call their recurring MMA hangout. They land on “Protect Ya Neck,” riff on Wu-Tang as the perfect theme, and joke about what they can play without getting copyright-struck.
- 1:05 – 2:29
Finger degloving horror & why fighters wear rubber rings
A casual props moment turns into a safety PSA when they watch “degloving” footage and react in disgust. The group explains why metal rings are dangerous in gyms and training, and why silicone/rubber rings are a safer alternative.
- 2:29 – 5:14
Handshake etiquette, grip-douches, and why guys posture around fighters
They pivot from ring safety to social dynamics—handshakes, finger-squeezing “cheating,” and the weird energy men bring when meeting elite fighters. Serra shares how injuries affect his grip and why some handshakes feel like a challenge.
- 5:14 – 5:50
The intimidation factor of heavyweights: meeting Ngannou in person
Joe describes the shock of standing next to Francis Ngannou and how size/power changes everything. The crew transitions into talking about terrifying physical outliers and the psychology of being around them.
- 5:50 – 10:18
Ferreira vs Bader breakdown + Bellator testing jokes + Bobby Lashley freak genetics
They pull up Renan Ferreira’s quick KO of Ryan Bader and analyze the timing/footwork. This turns into jokes about drug testing in other promotions and a tangent on Lashley’s superhero physique and crossover combat athletes.
- 10:18 – 15:16
‘Natty or not?’ genetics talk, then Sean Brady vs Gilbert Burns (grappling chess)
After the ad, they debate freak physiques and what ‘natural’ even means, then shift into recent UFC results. Sean Brady’s game plan vs Gilbert Burns becomes a case study in pacing, cage work, and world-class jiu-jitsu risks.
- 15:16 – 21:36
MMA history perspective: Aldo’s peak, BJ Penn’s prime, and leg-kick consequences
They zoom out into the ‘best ever at their best’ argument—Aldo’s WEC-era dominance and BJ Penn’s prime mystique. The talk gets visceral as they discuss long-term damage from calf kicks and Pereira’s technical approach to avoid shin-on-shin risk.
- 21:36 – 28:11
Pereira vs Jamahal Hill controversy: the nut-shot reset, distance trap, and left-hook mechanics
They replay the key sequence from Pereira vs Jamahal and argue about positioning during the stoppage/reset moment. The crew dissects how Pereira closes distance, clears the lead hand, and lands the shovel-hook/uppercut hybrid left.
- 28:11 – 31:57
Men, emotions, and “Chimp Crazy”: why pet chimps are a nightmare
A discussion about fighters crying and male sensitivity turns into Joe’s recommendation of a grim docuseries about pet chimp owners. They contrast it with ‘Chimp Empire,’ explaining chimp intelligence, aggression, and why captivity stories often end horribly.
- 31:57 – 51:37
Movie & TV rabbit hole: Westerns, The Boys “sauna” scene, zombie shows, and streaming rights
They go deep on film/TV: Clint Eastwood classics, modern Western-horror, and what shows they’ve tapped out on. The conversation peaks with an explicit ‘The Boys’ scene breakdown, then shifts to zombies, 28 Days Later availability, and streaming licensing oddities.
- 51:37 – 1:05:56
Meth, real-world chaos, and dark fighter stories: North Hollywood shootout to CTE
The tone shifts from entertainment to real violence: meth-driven crime, the North Hollywood shootout, and Nazi meth history from the book ‘Blitzed.’ From there, they touch rabies as a ‘real zombie virus’ idea, then transition to troubling fighter outcomes and CTE/impulsivity.
- 1:05:56 – 1:17:25
Career arcs, current contenders, and recovery tech: Brady/Belal/Usman + stem cells + joint prehab
They return to fight analysis—pacing, hunger, and who deserves title shots—then shift into longevity strategies. Joe advocates stem cells and specific shoulder-prehab tools, tying athletic maintenance to the realities of aging fighters and coaches holding pads daily.
- 1:17:25 – 1:24:09
Smelling salts challenge + Blade opening scene appreciation
They finally break out the heavy-duty smelling salts and go around the table, reacting to the ammonia blast. From there it turns into a mini-celebration of the movie Blade—especially its iconic opening club scene.
- 1:24:09 – 1:34:29
Boxing deep cuts: Roy Jones decline theory, Julian Jackson power, and dangerous rules
They shift into boxing history—why Roy Jones Jr. fell off after heavyweight and weight changes, plus classic KO artists like Julian Jackson and Gerald McClellan. They also criticize rules like the standing eight count and discuss incentives that shape fighting styles.
- 1:34:29 – 2:20:22
Weight cutting is sanctioned cheating: Mikey Musumeci incident, PED eras, and glove/eye-poke fixes
A long policy-style segment argues that weight cutting should be treated like cheating and replaced with hydration-based, walk-around-weight systems. They cite Mikey Musumeci’s hospitalization and belt stripping as a cautionary tale, then drift into PED-era nostalgia and practical safety changes like better gloves to prevent eye pokes.
- 2:20:22 – 3:08:32
Sphere card preview and big-fight forecasting: O’Malley vs Merab, Holloway vs Topuria, plus wrap-up plugs
They close by previewing upcoming UFC fights and the spectacle of the Sphere event—how the visuals might work in-arena and on broadcast. The crew debates key matchups (especially O’Malley vs Merab and Holloway vs Topuria), then wraps with guest plugs and confirms the show name again.
