The Joe Rogan ExperienceJRE MMA Show #43 with Brendan Schaub
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 1:54
UFC 230 at MSG: why the main event is still “TBA vs TBD”
Joe and Brendan open by reacting to the UFC 230 poster still listing the Madison Square Garden main event as “to be announced” versus “to be determined,” unusually close to the event date. They speculate the promotion is scrambling for a headliner and discuss what that wording might imply behind the scenes.
- •UFC 230 is only a month away with no announced main event
- •Confusion over “to be announced” vs “to be determined” wording
- •Speculation that the UFC may be waiting on bigger news or a specific fight
- •Early mentions of Jones/Gustafsson and Jones/Cain rumors
- 1:54 – 2:22
Evaluating the rest of the MSG lineup (Stylebender–Brunson, Rockhold–Weidman, Jacaré–Branch)
They pivot to the quality of the undercard and argue that, despite the missing headliner, there are strong matchups already booked. Joe highlights Israel Adesanya vs Derek Brunson as a sleeper, while Brendan calls out other notable middleweight fights.
- •Adesanya vs Brunson framed as a key ‘sleeper’ fight
- •Rockhold vs Weidman and Jacaré vs Branch praised as compelling matchups
- •Confusion about bout ordering on the UFC website
- •General take: the card structure looks unfinished/chaotic
- 2:22 – 2:59
Gegard Mousasi’s dominance, Rory at 185, and Bellator’s tournament complications
The discussion moves to Mousasi’s form and his move to Bellator, especially after his one-sided win over Rory MacDonald. They break down why Rory’s size and weight class choice made the matchup brutal and then zoom out to Bellator’s tournament dynamics and Rory’s health issues (notably his nose).
- •Mousasi vs Rory viewed as a mismatch at 185 due to size/experience
- •Rory’s nose damage and prior injuries discussed as career factors
- •Bellator’s welterweight tournament creates a tricky champion/tournament setup
- •Mousasi’s résumé and win streak reinforce his elite standing
- 2:59 – 9:29
Comic-book detour: ‘Batman’s penis,’ superhero reboots, and pop-culture fatigue
A running gag about fighter confidence turns into a long riff on comic books showing Batman’s anatomy and broader debates about modern reboots. Joe critiques what he sees as revisionist trends in comics and superhero casting changes, then the conversation spills into superhero power-scaling arguments (Batman vs Superman).
- •Batman comic controversy becomes a springboard for media commentary
- •Complaints about modern reboots and ‘rewriting’ classic characters
- •Batman vs Superman logic debate (rich guy vs literal superbeing)
- •Tone shifts from MMA analysis into cultural commentary and comedy bits
- 9:29 – 13:36
Venom, Spider-Man generations, and Chris Pratt at Comic Con (plus hunting and wrestling)
They continue the pop-culture lane, talking Venom’s premise and the constant churn of Spider-Man actors. Joe shares stories about Chris Pratt feeling out of place at Comic Con, plus Pratt’s hunting, athletic background, and videos of him wrestling the Nogueira brothers.
- •Skepticism about Venom and superhero movie saturation
- •Debate over the ‘real’ Spider-Man and recasting fatigue
- •Chris Pratt anecdotes: Comic Con vibe, hunting trip, wrestling background
- •Actors who can ‘actually’ grapple stand out as credible to fighters
- 13:36 – 21:34
Theme parks, Disney rides, and the economics of ‘cheat days’ (Disneyland to Chicago pizza)
The conversation drifts into amusement parks, comparing Universal, Six Flags, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Disney World’s Avatar ride. This transitions into diet/food talk—why theme parks wreck nutrition, then an extended Chicago food tangent about deep-dish pizza and long waits at famous spots.
- •Avatar ‘Flights of Passage’ described as Joe’s best ride ever
- •Universal/Simpsons/Harry Potter ride comparisons
- •Disneyland food temptations (churros, almonds, turkey legs)
- •Chicago deep-dish as ‘casserole’ + food-tour stories and crowd talk
- 21:34 – 24:30
Tour crowds and culture: Chicago & Toronto vs the ‘whitest’ Seattle/Portland
They compare cities through the lens of performing live: Chicago’s energy, Toronto’s multicultural vibe, and Seattle/Portland’s homogeneity. Joe uses the topic to segue into an evolutionary explanation of skin color adaptation and why racism is irrational.
- •Chicago audiences praised; cold-weather cities ‘get thick’
- •Toronto likened to a cleaner, more polite New York with a strong melting pot
- •Seattle/Portland framed as extremely white due to climate and demographics
- •Joe’s ‘everyone comes from Africa’ argument against racism
- 24:30 – 34:13
MeToo, public pile-ons, and redemption: Louis C.K., Aziz, Cosby, and Ronaldo allegations
They address backlash culture and how legitimate claims can be undermined by false or opportunistic ones. The segment centers on Louis C.K.’s attempted comeback, what a proper apology might look like, and how different offenses (Louis vs Cosby/Weinstein) are often lumped together; they briefly mention allegations involving Cristiano Ronaldo.
- •Critique of ‘targeting’ and online outrage dynamics
- •Louis C.K.: timing of return vs need for fuller accountability/apology
- •Distinguishing levels of misconduct (creepy behavior vs rape)
- •Cosby case discussed as clear criminal wrongdoing; Ronaldo allegation referenced
- 34:13 – 43:39
Joe’s new comedy special: nerves, editing lessons, and the pain of watching yourself
Brendan asks Joe about releasing his special, prompting Joe to discuss the two-year build, self-editing, and what he learned from reviewing footage. They also trade horror stories about people forcing guests to watch their own work at parties and the awkwardness of self-promotion.
- •Joe calls it his best special and explains the creative process
- •Value of recording video (not just audio) to refine performance details
- •The discomfort of watching yourself and the ‘ego trap’ of self-screenings
- •Stories about forced viewing: NFL season recap and ‘Super Bowl paused for a band’
- 43:39 – 45:46
UFC 229 preview: will Conor–Khabib hit 2M buys, and why Conor skipped the promo tour
They pivot back to fights with a business angle: whether the PPV can reach the biggest Conor numbers without the full promotional machine. Joe argues Conor intentionally minimized promotion after the Mayweather payday, focusing energy on preparation for the toughest MMA matchup of his career.
- •Schaub predicts it may not break 2M buys; compares to Conor–Floyd/Nate 2 hype
- •Conor’s limited promo framed as strategic energy conservation
- •UFC’s ‘world tour’ promo model vs this fight’s quieter buildup
- •Shared view: stylistically one of Conor’s hardest fights
- 45:46 – 52:20
Technical and psychological matchup: takedown threat, early ‘fire,’ hate factor, and weight-cut risks
Joe and Brendan break down how Conor’s footwork and counterpunching could punish entries, and how Khabib must close distance with discipline. They emphasize the psychological stakes, Khabib’s visible rattling in press moments, and the added variable of Khabib’s history with rough weight cuts.
- •Conor’s early-round danger vs Khabib’s pressure and chain wrestling
- •Khabib’s emotional investment (‘hate factor’) could create openings
- •High-stakes environment compared to Aldo’s mental collapse vs Conor
- •Khabib weight-cut history and ‘trace amount’ discussions foreshadow later USADA talk
- 52:20 – 59:02
Card-wide angles: Ferguson–Pettis, Volkov–Lewis, and Khabib’s legacy vs Conor’s résumé
They discuss key co-main and heavyweight matchups, then zoom out to compare the depth of Conor’s opponent list to Khabib’s. Joe acknowledges Khabib’s dominance while noting fewer marquee wins, and they debate how much Khabib has truly been tested under elite striking threats.
- •Ferguson’s quick return after knee surgery and risk vs Pettis
- •Volkov vs Derrick Lewis framed as a dangerous heavyweight litmus test
- •Conor’s résumé (Aldo, Alvarez, Mendes, Holloway, etc.) vs Khabib’s top wins
- •Khabib’s rare ‘wobble’ moments (Michael Johnson) weighed against overall dominance
- 59:02 – 1:23:29
USADA ‘snitching,’ Jon Jones sanctions, and changing anti-doping disclosure rules
A rumor about USADA cooperation clauses leads into a detailed reading of policy language and what ‘substantial assistance’ could mean. They debate whether Jon Jones knowingly cheated or ingested something tainted, then critique the reputational and financial damage fighters suffer even when later cleared, especially under new confidentiality/disclosure practices.
- •USADA sanction reduction pathways and ‘substantial assistance’ described as snitching
- •Joe’s view: Jones likely had trace contamination not performance-enhancing dosing
- •Discussion of management leverage (Malki Kawa) in anti-doping disputes
- •Policy shift: fighters can be removed quietly while supplement investigations proceed
- 1:23:29 – 1:26:35
MSG headliner shock: Shevchenko vs Sijara Eubanks reportedly moved to main event
They react in real time to news that Shevchenko–Eubanks could headline UFC 230, expressing disbelief about the scale of the booking for MSG. While acknowledging the fighters’ abilities, they argue the optics and mainstream drawing power don’t match the venue’s expectations.
- •Live reaction to tweet/news update and disbelief at the headliner choice
- •Surprise at Eubanks’ limited UFC experience relative to a title headliner
- •Contrast with expected blockbuster options (Jones/Cain, Jones/Stipe, etc.)
- •Commentary on promotion strategy and the ‘magnitude’ of MSG
- 1:26:35 – 2:13:28
Late-show life: Sober October, fitness challenges, charity, fatherhood, and health/therapy tangents
The final stretch becomes a wide-ranging hang: Joe talks downtime after his special, Sober October logistics, and fitness trackers, while Brendan shares an emotional offer to help Ray Borg with his child’s medical bills. They then bounce through fertility clinic stories, men behaving badly, body image on stage, massage/yoga recovery, stem cell/exosome treatments, and Brendan’s upcoming special and Bravo work.
- •Sober October + fitness tracker challenge logistics
- •Brendan’s pledge to help Ray Borg’s medical bills and fatherhood vulnerability
- •Fertility clinic and ‘doctor swapping sperm’ stories; broader ‘men are gross’ riff
- •Recovery/health: massage, yoga, Regenokine, exosomes, stem cell outcomes
- •Career updates: Brendan’s Showtime special plan and Bravo show experience
