The Joe Rogan ExperienceJRE MMA Show #39 with Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 2:58
Beers, going back to 155, and how the Mike Perry fight got made
Joe and Cowboy kick off with beers and immediately jump into Cerrone’s current situation: trying to return to lightweight and then getting pulled into a Mike Perry matchup. Cowboy explains the UFC Performance Institute visit and the chain of short-notice fight offers that led to Perry in Denver.
- 2:58 – 5:37
Jackson-Wink loyalty rupture: why Cowboy says he was pushed out
Rogan asks why longtime coaches Jackson/Winkeljohn ended up cornering Mike Perry while Perry was being matched with Cowboy. Cowboy describes the internal dispute as a betrayal of loyalty, claiming the gym chose money and a newer fighter over a decade-long relationship.
- 5:37 – 12:33
How Cowboy came up at Jackson’s—and why the gym feels ‘different’ now
Cowboy rewinds to his early days with the Tapout crew and Leonard Garcia, describing how he moved to Albuquerque and found a family-like pro environment. He contrasts that old culture with what he calls a “puppy mill” model where anyone can drop in and spar pros.
- 12:33 – 17:19
Training control, coaching quality, and building the BMF Ranch as an alternative
Cowboy expands his critique: cookie-cutter coaching, declining infrastructure, and questionable staff quality—especially in wrestling. He explains why he created the BMF Ranch to control partners, coaching, and training direction, and how that changes a fighter’s role.
- 17:19 – 29:22
Life on the ranch: acreage, hunting, and the ‘cult leader’ sales pitch
The conversation pivots into Cowboy’s remote New Mexico lifestyle—land, wildlife, and why he loves it despite joking it’s hard to sell. Stories about his grandpa buying the property in cash segue into Cowboy’s values around loyalty and family.
- 29:22 – 35:28
Vegas detour: Monster conference, gambling wins, and breakdancing nostalgia
From the gym drama, they veer into Cerrone’s night in Vegas for a Monster event—baccarat, conference antics, and Cowboy unexpectedly breakdancing in boots. Rogan connects breakdancing athleticism to grappling and body control.
- 35:28 – 47:22
DMT ceremony: Cowboy’s first psychedelic breakthrough
Cowboy describes being invited into a ceremonial DMT setting (chants, music, intention-setting) and narrates two intense trips in vivid detail. Rogan contextualizes the ritual elements as ‘technology’ that amplifies the experience.
- 47:22 – 57:29
Mushrooms, ego, and fighting fear: using psychedelics for self-inquiry
The discussion broadens to mushrooms, microdosing, and confronting fear—especially Cowboy’s anxiety before fights and fear of losing publicly. Cowboy tells a surreal Singapore haircut trip that forced him to face his identity, ego, and expectations.
- 57:29 – 1:07:39
Why it’s still illegal: propaganda, harm, and the case for freedom
Rogan argues psychedelics remain illegal largely due to outdated propaganda rather than evidence-based harm. They discuss studies on psilocybin for addiction treatment and contrast ‘party use’ vs intentional, learning-oriented use.
- 1:07:39 – 1:27:04
Hunting ethics and modern hypocrisy: meat-eating, vegans, and ‘nerfing’ life
A segue from psychedelics leads to hunting as another misunderstood experience. They argue many critics are disconnected from food systems, then move into a broader critique of modern comfort, participation trophies, and fragility.
- 1:27:04 – 1:45:04
Cowboy’s near-death cave dive: panic, blackout silt, and finding the exit
Cowboy tells a detailed, harrowing cave-diving story where a partner panics and silts out the cave, destroying visibility and threatening their exit line. He explains cave-diving protocols (thirds, lines, cookies) and how he nearly ran out of time while navigating total darkness.
- 1:45:04 – 1:48:20
Giving back: Cowboy Fight Series and building amateurs into pros
After the cave story, Cowboy shifts to a new project: an amateur promotion designed to find prospects and develop them through his ranch ecosystem. He explains a tournament format and the plan to distribute via UFC Fight Pass.
- 1:48:20 – 1:53:10
Post-fight life ambitions: Hollywood stunts, choreography, and racing the Chili Bowl
Cowboy talks about transitions beyond fighting: acting work (including time with Denzel Washington), stunt coordination, and a new Mark Wahlberg project doing fight choreography. Then he pivots to an impulsive new challenge—dirt track racing at the Chili Bowl with minimal practice.
- 1:53:10 – 2:54:02
More ‘Cowboy’ hobbies: mounted shooting, Wild West culture, and time-travel riffing
They cap the episode’s stretch of wild tangents with mounted shooting (blanks popping balloons) and why it’s both serious and fun. The conversation then drifts into Westerns, time-travel hypotheticals, pirates, Genghis Khan, and how modern tech would rewrite history.
