CHAPTERS
Bas breaks his hand: exhaustion, anger, and the “boxing fracture”
Joe opens by teasing Bas about navigating his phone with an injured hand, and Bas explains how he punched a table after an exhausting multi-state work stretch. They discuss how unusual it is for Bas to lose his cool and why the pinky-knuckle fracture can disable the whole arm.
Nerve damage recovery: atrophy, peptides (BPC-157), and slow progress
Joe asks about Bas’ long-term arm atrophy and nerve issues. Bas shares the slow strength return over six years and discusses experimenting with the peptide BPC-157 for local healing and nerve/tendon recovery.
Combat sports wear-and-tear: neck fusions, Don Frye’s surgeries, and artificial discs
The conversation expands to other fighters’ spinal and neck damage, including Pat Miletich and Kurt Angle’s extreme stiffness and atrophy. They swap stories about disc fusions, Don Frye’s massive multi-disc fusion ordeal, and newer artificial disc replacement options.
Stem cells for fighters: fat vs bone marrow harvesting and knee treatments
Joe explains adult stem cell approaches and how U.S. research policy slowed progress in earlier years. Bas describes getting stem cell therapy for his knees using bone marrow extraction, plus the tradeoffs compared to harvesting from fat.
Heavyweight oddities: Tank Abbott, Roy Nelson, and Butterbean health myths
Joe and Bas reminisce about early MMA characters like Tank Abbott and debate the paradox of elite heavyweights carrying major extra weight. They marvel at Roy Nelson’s athleticism and knockout power, then share a surprising story about Butterbean’s medical stats.
Karate Combat explained: the pit, rule set, takedowns, and the viewer experience
Bas breaks down Karate Combat’s aesthetics, the sloped “pit” walls, and how the rule set encourages long-range striking while limiting prolonged ground fighting. Joe and Bas compare it to MMA’s cage, discuss five-second ground striking windows, and why certain strikes were initially limited.
Gloves, eye pokes, and evolving rules: from “long hooks” to full punching freedom
They examine Karate Combat’s gloves, praising the padding and curved design that may reduce eye pokes (like Pride gloves). Joe challenges the logic of restricting short hooks, and Bas notes the organization is receptive—then confirms hooks are no longer penalized.
Promotion & business detour: free streaming, karate.com, and domain-name gold rush
Bas explains how to watch Karate Combat for free and how the app aims to deliver enhanced viewing. The conversation then veers into the surprising value of premium domain names and stories of buying/selling them for millions.
Calling fights for Pride and beyond: remote commentary, name pronunciation, and broadcast craft
Bas and Joe talk about doing commentary remotely, including the challenges of latency and calling submissions in real time. They discuss announcer precision, how fans nitpick pronunciation, and praise broadcasters like Mauro Ranallo for his obsessive attention to detail.
Old-school MMA chaos: early tournaments, heel hooks vs Olympians, and underground events
They revisit formative MMA moments: submission-only wrestler vs fighter matches, dangerous leg locks, and how naive many competitors were about grappling. Bas tells wild stories about secret/underground-style events and corner advice that instantly changed outcomes.
Conor, Mayweather rules, and the power of low kicks (plus Aldo–Faber leg damage)
Joe and Bas unpack bizarre proposed “hybrid” rules for a Mayweather–McGregor rematch and argue clinch striking or any kicking would dramatically change the matchup. They then pivot into how leg kicks and calf kicks destroy mobility, highlighted by Jose Aldo’s infamous damage to Urijah Faber.
Infections and fight health: staph stories, pus extractions, and blood poisoning scares
The conversation turns medical, from gruesome hand infections to Bas’ staph infection in Japan and the antibiotics that saved him. Joe recounts recognizing staph in a friend, and they cite Kevin Randleman’s notorious infection as a cautionary tale.
Jon Jones testing positive: supplement responsibility, trace amounts, and consequences
Joe asks Bas about Jon Jones’ failed test and the “tainted supplement” explanation. Bas argues athletes are responsible for everything they ingest, while Joe emphasizes the reported trace levels and how past behavior affects trust and penalties.
Life after fighting: Inside MMA nostalgia, acting success, and Bas’ sitcom dream realized
Bas reflects on how much he loved Inside MMA and why traditional weekly TV formats struggle in a streaming news cycle. They discuss Bas’ growing acting career—especially Kevin Can Wait—how sitcom life differs from reality TV, and how Bas always wanted to make people laugh.
