CHAPTERS
Moving to Lightweight: walking weight, brutal cuts, and why 145 stopped being fun
Ilia explains he walks around 80–82kg and had been cutting 25–30 pounds to make featherweight, which drained his energy and enjoyment. Joe frames weight cutting as “sanctioned cheating,” and Ilia outlines why moving up is both healthier and more motivating for his championship goals.
Fixing weight cutting: more divisions, limits, and safety concerns
Joe argues the UFC should eliminate extreme cutting by adding more weight classes and reducing gaps. Ilia suggests a practical enforcement idea: if an athlete is 8–10% over their division weight during out-of-competition testing, they must move up.
Extreme examples and the psychology of cutting: Pereira, Rumble, and ‘you become a different person’
They trade stories of massive cutters—Islam’s size at 155, Pereira’s huge rehydration, Dricus and Khamzat, and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson’s absurd swings. Ilia describes how cutting changes his mood, thinking, and personality, while Joe debates whether cutting ever helps focus.
Topuria’s origin story: judo at 4, Georgia wrestling, Spain move, and discovering MMA by accident
Ilia recounts starting judo as a child, training Greco-Roman in Georgia, then moving to Spain at 15 where a chance encounter led his family to an MMA/BJJ gym. He credits falling in love immediately and emphasizes wrestling as the best foundational base for MMA.
Building a champion without an ‘elite factory’: mindset, obsession, and becoming Spain’s first UFC champ
Joe explores the ‘born vs. bred’ champion question as Ilia describes coming up without a famous champion-producing gym. Ilia credits an unwavering belief—if someone else did it, he can too—and details obsessive training habits and studying elite boxers to shape his style.
Fighters he loves watching & the ‘dominate’ mindset (Merab, Volk, and entertainment vs. efficiency)
The conversation shifts to admired fighters, especially Merab’s relentless cardio and how some athletes transform inside the Octagon. Ilia defines two kinds of champions—those who train to win and those who train to dominate—and explains why he wants fans to feel their money was well spent.
Joe’s ‘rules overhaul’: no cage, no stand-ups, carry positions between rounds + MMA team competitions
Joe pitches radical changes to make fights more ‘pure’: a large matted area instead of a cage, penalties for stepping out, no stand-ups, and restarting rounds in the same grappling position. Ilia proposes international team formats inspired by soccer’s Champions League structure.
Promotion walls & missed superfights: UFC vs. ONE, and the Fedor-in-the-UFC saga
They discuss how the UFC’s talent concentration shapes what fans consider ‘world champion,’ while acknowledging strong fighters in other organizations. Joe shares why his biggest regret is never seeing prime Fedor in the UFC—describing tense negotiations and criminal-adjacent power players behind the scenes.
Conor McGregor: comeback skepticism, drug testing, lifestyle, and ideal matchups
Joe and Ilia debate whether Conor will return, what his time off and partying imply, and how drug testing factors into readiness. They also game out matchups—Chandler, Paddy, and the economics of a Conor fight—plus the idea of stadium events in Spain for huge European market growth.
Title-shot politics at 155: Topuria demands Islam, rejects contender fights, and predicts the division
Ilia insists his next bout should be for the lightweight belt, arguing his featherweight run and knockouts justify immediate contention. Joe agrees Islam is the fight to make and they explore how the UFC’s matchmaking and injury chaos complicate plans; Ilia also makes bold predictions about Paddy vs. Gaethje.
Steroids, testing loopholes, and the mental cost of cheating
Joe explains how exemptions and short-acting substances can be abused, using TRT-era examples like Vitor Belfort’s physical transformation. Ilia emphasizes he wouldn’t take PEDs because it would poison his self-belief and make victory feel undeserved—arguing mindset is often more important than physique.
Retirement horizons, business interests, and launching ‘WO (Way of the Warrior)’ in Spain
Ilia talks about reading daily, studying biographies, and preparing for life after fighting—possibly retiring in his early-to-mid 30s depending on enjoyment and motivation. He shares details of his Spanish MMA promotion, WO, designed to create a clearer pathway to the UFC via Fight Pass exposure.
Inside the weight cut: 12-week diet, water loading, dehydration, wine hack, and rehydration strategy
Ilia gives a detailed breakdown of cutting from the start of camp: strict calories, minimal carbs, and the psychological grind. He outlines fight-week water loading, sodium/carbs restriction, the final dehydration sessions, and a stepwise rehydration plan focused on electrolytes and carbohydrates—plus a wild story of using wine to dehydrate faster.
Training philosophy and fight craft: separating disciplines, long combinations, body work, and calf kicks
Ilia explains why he trains boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu separately outside camp, then blends everything during camp to “polish” the full MMA system. They break down tactical examples (like the Emmett fight), emphasizing long punching sequences, body attacks, and how calf kicks evolved into a must-have weapon.
Referees, judging, and why the UFC got big: stand-ups, bad stoppages, and the TUF era
Joe revisits his frustration with referee interference—especially separating grappling exchanges—and highlights notorious stoppages and judging inconsistencies. Ilia asks what made the UFC successful, leading Joe to credit The Ultimate Fighter’s breakout moment and the era of stars like Chuck Liddell that mainstreamed the sport.
Life philosophy, ego management, and Rogan’s definition of success (plus social media’s trap)
They close on mindset: sparring less to protect longevity, putting ego “on a leash,” and focusing on growth over proving yourself in the gym. Ilia stresses living in the moment and building skills rather than chasing fame, while Joe describes success as process-orientation and doing what you love well—warning that social media glamor distorts young people’s goals.
