CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 1:56
Engage fightwear origin story and early-career financial struggle
Israel explains the meaning behind his chain and how the Engage fightwear brand became tied to his journey. He recounts a low point in China after losing to Alex Pereira, when fights dried up and money ran out, and how a key supporter helped him at the exact right time.
- •Engage as Adesanya’s fightwear brand and personal symbol
- •Career stall in China after the first Pereira loss and being denied fights
- •Being down to his last $500 and the emotional moment of unexpected help
- •Long-term loyalty: Adesanya and Volkanovski now owning part of the brand
- 1:56 – 4:48
UFC uniform kits vs. sponsors: expression, money, and “approved sponsors” idea
Joe and Israel debate the pros and cons of UFC’s uniform fight kits. They agree the sport lost meaningful income when sponsors disappeared, while also acknowledging the value of fighter self-expression through custom shorts and designs.
- •Fight kits reduced sponsor money that often exceeded fight purses
- •Fighter individuality: custom shorts (O’Malley, Bryce Mitchell) and design requests
- •The humor and reality of old-school sponsor placement (e.g., “Condom Depot”)
- •Proposal: an approved-sponsor list or vetting process rather than a total ban
- 4:48 – 5:58
Shorts, tights, and grappling realities: grabbing, body types, and rules
The conversation shifts to functional gear for MMA—especially grappling—where grabbing shorts or tights becomes a factor. They weigh practicality against tradition and style, including why some fighters avoid tights and how rule enforcement plays out in real fights.
- •Argument for tights in grappling to reduce grabbing temptation
- •Adesanya’s experience: Brunson grabbing his tights multiple times
- •Style vs. function: some fighters prefer shorts for identity and comfort
- •Broader theme: balancing uniformity, expression, and competitive fairness
- 5:58 – 7:42
Volkanovski’s activity and a Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree breakdown
Israel praises Volkanovski’s momentum, frequency, and toughness, then pivots to picking Alex Pereira in the upcoming fight. They analyze Pereira’s frame, distance management, and signature leg-kick mechanics, while acknowledging Khalil’s speed and KO threat.
- •Volkanovski’s “save the card” activity and fighting through injuries
- •Adesanya picks Pereira due to momentum, size, and distance control
- •Technical talk: Pereira’s low-kick mechanics and how it transfers damage
- •Khalil’s weapons: speed, timing, and off-speed setups—‘paper can’t fight paper’
- 7:42 – 16:27
Adesanya vs. Pereira rivalry: history, mindset, and the “spirit/juju” factor
Israel revisits their multi-fight saga across kickboxing and the UFC, describing how close many exchanges were and why he always believed he could win. He frames the rivalry as psychological and spiritual as well as technical, including his camp mindset shift before finally getting the KO.
- •Multiple fights and near-wins before finally turning the rivalry around
- •Belief vs. public narratives: rejecting the idea that he was ‘scared’
- •Spiritual framing: recovery, “juju,” prayer, and Pereira’s composure under fire
- •Camp intensity and altered states (micro/macro-dosing mention) to unlock focus
- 16:27 – 21:57
Time off, ring rust, and building a bigger gas tank for five-round fights
After discussing his 11-month break, Israel assesses what improved and what slipped, including small footwork errors and decision-making moments. Joe introduces an old-school S&C-first philosophy (Marinovich/Curson, BJ Penn) emphasizing elite cardio as the key differentiator.
- •11 months off felt more beneficial than harmful; errors showed on rewatch
- •Output metrics and strike rate: data-driven assessment of performance
- •Philosophy: skill is already elite—camp should maximize conditioning
- •Fatigue as the trigger for lapses in judgment, reflex decline, and bad exits
- 21:57 – 28:29
Recovery tech and longevity: hyperbaric oxygen, NAD, stem cells, and daily edges
Joe details hyperbaric chamber protocols and claims around recovery and biological aging, while Israel considers adding it to his routine. They connect modern recovery stacks—sauna, cold plunge, red light, infusions—to staying competitive as athletes age.
- •Hyperbaric oxygen protocol, pressure/oxygen mask setup, and time commitment
- •Telomeres/NAD discussion as a lens for ‘biological age’ and recovery
- •Practical recovery stack: sauna, ice baths, red light, hyperbaric sessions
- •Stem cell experiences (Mexico) and how access differs by country
- 28:29 – 33:47
Weight cutting realities: hydration, IV bans, brain rehydration, and safer divisions
They dive deep into weight cutting’s dangers and why it can feel like a near-death experience for severe cutters. The discussion expands to solutions: hydration testing, more weight classes, and structural rule changes to reduce extreme weight manipulation.
- •Weight cuts as ‘spiritual’/delirious experiences; examples like Cyborg and Oliveira
- •Adesanya’s relatively mild cut: arriving around 198–200 for 185
- •Brain rehydration is slow (blood-brain barrier) and affects durability/chin
- •Proposed fixes: more weight classes, addressing huge gaps (e.g., 185 to 205)
- 33:47 – 51:23
Rules and officiating: grounded fighters, upkicks, soccer kicks, and stand-up politics
Joe argues for rules that better reflect real fighting, especially allowing upkicks from guard and revisiting certain grounded-opponent restrictions. The conversation turns to referee influence—standups, ‘let’s work’ prompts, and concerns about shaping fights for entertainment or business outcomes.
- •Upkicks from guard and grounded-opponent rules as inconsistent with ‘real fighting’
- •Examples: Anderson Silva’s controversial upkick KO in Rumble on the Rock footage
- •Soccer kicks: why optics matter vs. why open-space legality could make sense
- •Standups and referee pressure: worries about influencing outcomes and ‘looking shady’
- 51:23 – 58:31
Gloves, eye pokes, and a safer design: Wittman’s Onyx vs. UFC gloves
They compare old and new UFC gloves, the persistent eye-poke problem, and why Trevor Wittman’s Onyx gloves are viewed as a superior solution. Joe proposes an even more radical change—covering fingertips—to reduce injuries without harming grappling.
- •New UFC gloves vs. old gloves: feel, damage, and the ‘curve’ debate
- •Wittman’s Onyx gloves: curved hand position to reduce accidental eye contact
- •Proposal: partially covered fingers/mitt-style tips to prevent cornea injuries
- •Eye-poke consequences: repeated surgeries and long-term damage across fighters
- 58:31 – 1:11:21
Training-room dynamics: leg locks, ego management, and choosing safe partners
Joe and Israel talk about leg locks as uniquely dangerous due to short reaction windows and high injury risk. Israel explains how fame changes gym dynamics—people hunting for a moment to ‘get’ him—and why he selectively trains with trusted partners.
- •Inside heel hooks and the ‘fine-fine-pop’ injury timeline
- •Tapping early to avoid ego-driven injuries, especially with leg entanglements
- •Famous-athlete problem: hungry training partners seeking status from rounds
- •Setting boundaries: declining rolls with unknown or opportunistic partners
- 1:11:21 – 1:33:24
Conspiracy tangent: Epstein, Diddy allegations, COVID mandates, and media narratives
The episode takes a long detour into politics and conspiracies, from Epstein and celebrity scandals to COVID-era coercion and distrust of institutions. They share personal reactions to mandates, media framing, and the psychological impact of lockdown policies—especially in New Zealand’s MIQ system.
- •Epstein/Maxwell ‘who was trafficked to who?’ and frustration over lack of prosecution
- •Diddy allegations, celebrity-party dynamics, and blackmail-style fears
- •COVID mandates and coercion: regret, job pressure, and institutional denial
- •New Zealand MIQ stories: family separation, punitive enforcement, and mental strain
- 1:33:24 – 1:39:40
Adesanya’s documentary and the real cost of fame: boundaries and protecting energy
After a break, Israel discusses his documentary and how it captures not just fights but the pressures of sudden fame. He explains the hardest part—people and access—sharing how he learned to set boundaries, manage energy, and maintain mental health.
- •Documentary timeline (talks began around 2018) and behind-the-scenes footage
- •Fame’s hardest part: home privacy, late-night visitors, constant requests
- •Boundary-setting: saying no, avoiding ‘zombie apocalypse’ photo lines
- •Therapy, post-fight emotional crashes, and tools for protecting energy
- 1:39:40 – 1:51:19
Impostor syndrome, meeting idols, and enjoying moments without performing for the camera
They trade stories about awkward celebrity encounters and how perspective changes once you’re the famous person. Israel describes learning not to ‘bot out,’ valuing authentic interactions, and recognizing impostor syndrome without letting it steer his behavior.
- •Early cringe moments meeting Rogan; learning not to over-explain or overperform
- •Smoking with Snoop: regretting filming instead of living the moment
- •Not needing photos: valuing memory and genuine connection over proof
- •Impostor syndrome management and feeling like you ‘belong’ in big rooms
- 1:51:19 – 2:35:13
Freedom after losing the belt: creativity, fighting for fun, and the long arc of a career
Israel reflects on how defending a title can subtly constrain creativity and amplify pressure over time, similar to Anderson Silva’s reign. Now, without the belt, he describes a renewed desire to fight for himself—looser, more experimental, and motivated by joy rather than obligation.
- •Long title reigns can narrow creativity; pressure accumulates with each defense
- •Fan psychology: building champions up to tear them down
- •Post-title mindset: more freedom, less spotlight intensity, more playfulness
- •Goal shift: stay active, enjoy the craft, and let the belt ‘come back around’ naturally
