The Joe Rogan ExperienceJRE MMA Show #19 with Vinny Shoreman & Liam Harrison
CHAPTERS
- 0:04 – 0:48
Why Muay Thai still hasn’t exploded in America
Joe opens by arguing that Muay Thai is the most exciting striking sport, yet it remains underappreciated in the U.S. Liam and Vinny discuss why MMA has helped, but Muay Thai still lags behind mainstream visibility.
- 0:48 – 2:35
Traditions, pacing, and the Wai Kru: barrier or feature?
The group breaks down the ceremonial elements of Muay Thai—music, the Wai Kru/Ram Muay, and the Mongkol—and debates whether those traditions hurt TV appeal. Liam notes some UK shows are removing pageantry to be more “fan friendly.”
- 2:35 – 4:11
Fight volume in Thailand vs the West (108 fights vs 300+)
Joe reacts to Liam’s 108-fight career and the reality that Thai fighters often have 200–300+ bouts. They explain the economic and cultural reasons Thais fight extremely often, sometimes weekly, as a livelihood.
- 4:11 – 5:11
Europe’s Muay Thai scene, match-making, and promotions (Yokkao, Lion Fight)
Liam and Vinny describe Europe’s thriving weekend show circuit and why it’s more developed than the U.S. They praise strong matchmaking (especially Yokkao) and criticize mismatches that can happen when elite Thais fight novices abroad.
- 5:11 – 6:28
Commentary career and the business of presenting fights
Vinny talks about his commentary history (It’s Showtime!, Yokkao, Enfusion/Glory era) and how presentation affects growth. Joe brainstorms what would make Muay Thai catch on in America, emphasizing elbows, clinch, trips, and sweeps.
- 6:28 – 9:36
Liam’s fan-friendly style and what makes fights TV-ready
They joke about Vinny’s bias toward Liam and then get serious about what draws viewers: action, intensity, and selecting the right fights. Joe argues networks could sell Muay Thai as the ‘most dangerous strikers on earth.’
- 9:36 – 12:08
Wild Card Gym stories, boxing fandom, and meeting Freddie Roach
The conversation pivots into boxing travel stories: trying (and failing) to meet GGG, and meeting Freddie Roach at Wild Card. They highlight Roach’s kindness, curiosity, and the toll of fighting (trauma-related Parkinson’s).
- 12:08 – 14:33
Seminars in America: physical Muay Thai + NLP/hypnosis mindset coaching
Liam explains the Fire & Fury Focus seminars: Vinny primes students mentally, then Liam teaches techniques. Joe and Liam admit they were skeptical of hypnosis until experiencing it firsthand, reframing it as guided focus rather than ‘mind control.’
- 14:33 – 22:55
Hakalau, anchoring, and the ‘Warrior’ keyword—mindset in big fights
Vinny details Hakalau (expanded peripheral awareness) and anchoring states (e.g., glove press). Liam shares the origin story: losing badly to Anawat, then using Vinny’s methods for the rematch and entering a near-unbreakable flow state—despite later discovering he’d suffered a concussion.
- 22:55 – 29:43
Training like a Thai: Thailand camp life vs the modern ‘Bad Company’ stable
Liam describes living in a Thai gym for 18 months: twice-daily training, three-hour sessions, clinch torture, and relentless conditioning. He contrasts that with the current UK scene where elite partners and coaching at Bad Company allow world-class preparation without living abroad full-time.
- 29:43 – 38:02
Weight cuts, calories, and recovery tools (cryotherapy, CBD, hair tests)
They get practical about diet: Liam now cuts less weight, keeps carbs due to huge training output, and manages energy around PT work. The talk expands into recovery methods—cryotherapy, sensory deprivation tanks, CBD—and skepticism about hair-follicle nutrition testing.
- 38:02 – 1:15:56
Natural talent, youth development, and kids fighting (no head contact)
Joe, Liam, and Vinny discuss what ‘natural talent’ looks like in striking, from prodigy kids to UFC’s Darren Till. They also debate youth Muay Thai, explaining junior rules that remove head contact and how structured classes build confidence and technical skill early.
- 1:15:56 – 1:50:20
Legend talk: Saenchai’s artistry, gambling influence, and Thailand realities
Liam describes fighting Saenchai—accuracy, creativity, and pace changes that feel supernatural. The conversation widens to Thailand’s gambling ecosystem, weight advantages to attract bets, and darker stories like alleged drink tampering or fight fixing (with caveats).
