The Joe Rogan ExperienceJRE MMA Show #62 with Brendan Schaub
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 0:44
Cold open banter: Gucci shoes, confidence, and jumping into fight talk
Joe and Brendan kick off the live show by roasting Brendan’s flashy outfit choices before pivoting to the weekend’s fights. The tone is playful but quickly turns into hardcore MMA recap mode.
- •Light trash talk about Brendan’s Gucci shoes and tight pants
- •Setting the “let’s talk fights” agenda
- •Quick transition from comedy banter to UFC discussion
- 0:44 – 2:03
ESPN+ pay-per-view rollout problems and the piracy dilemma
Brendan explains how difficult it was to actually purchase and watch the event on ESPN+, describing platform glitches and workarounds. They joke about illegal streams while acknowledging how friction pushes fans toward piracy.
- •ESPN+ ordering/app issues causing fans to miss fights
- •Workarounds (desktop purchase, app restarts, TV sign-ins)
- •Illegal streams being easier and higher quality than the official path
- •How access problems can hurt PPV sales and fan experience
- 2:03 – 4:17
Max Holloway’s stardom and the realities of moving up in weight
They discuss why Holloway became a superstar (notably the Ortega fight) and why moving from 145 to 155 isn’t automatically a success story. The conversation centers on size, power transfer, and how Poirier’s shots “counted” more.
- •Ortega fight as a turning point for Holloway’s popularity
- •Holloway’s mentality and reputation even in losses
- •Weight-cut philosophy vs. the limits of moving up
- •Power and durability differences at 155
- 4:17 – 7:02
Poirier vs Holloway breakdown: damage, technique, and Poirier’s resume
Joe and Brendan credit Dustin Poirier’s performance, highlighting clean timing, head movement, and visible damage differences after the fight. They run through Poirier’s notable wins and how this fight elevated him with casual fans.
- •Poirier’s clean shots and consistent impact
- •Visible damage disparity post-fight
- •“Coming out party” for Poirier among mainstream viewers
- •Review of Poirier’s opponents and defining wins
- 7:02 – 8:24
Theo Von at cageside and the shock of watching elite fights live
They riff on Theo Von’s emotional investment and hilarious “coach” yelling during the bout. Brendan describes how outsiders often don’t grasp the intensity of watching world-class MMA up close until they experience it.
- •Theo Von’s cageside reactions and yelling instructions
- •Friendly betting and fighter-fan relationships
- •The intensity of witnessing top-level fights in real time
- •Humor as a bridge to appreciating the brutality
- 8:24 – 9:52
Adesanya vs Gastelum: all-time classic, adversity, and hidden grappling
They call Adesanya–Gastelum one of the greatest fights ever and argue the early knockdown helped Adesanya’s long-term development. They also note Kelvin’s stock rose despite the loss and point out Adesanya’s surprising ground threats.
- •Why the fight is considered an all-time great
- •Adesanya showing durability and composure under fire
- •Gastelum’s toughness and why his reputation improved
- •Adesanya’s triangle attempts and transitions off his back
- 9:52 – 14:28
Weight classes, weight cutting extremes, and the case for 165 lbs
The discussion expands into the broader weight-cutting ecosystem: fighters ballooning after weigh-ins, mismatches created by drastic cuts, and whether additional divisions (like 165) would produce better performances. They compare body types across divisions and cite examples like Brandon Davis and Yoel Romero.
- •Arguments for adding more weight classes (especially 165)
- •Examples of extreme cuts and rehydration (e.g., Davis)
- •How size disparities show up across 135/145/185
- •Adesanya’s natural size vs the true “big” middleweights
- 14:28 – 19:40
Whittaker vs Adesanya setup, Yoel Romero looming, and judging philosophy
They preview Adesanya vs Whittaker (and debate travel to Australia), then talk about Romero’s unique danger and Whittaker’s injury history. The conversation detours into scoring: when damage should outweigh volume, and whether more draws or expanded 10-8/10-7 usage would make sense.
- •Adesanya–Whittaker matchup intrigue and stylistic questions
- •Romero as the nightmare contender and aging uncertainty
- •Whittaker’s injuries and the cost of elite training intensity
- •Judging criteria: cumulative scoring vs “fight reality” damage
- 19:40 – 32:02
Khalil Rountree’s Thailand transformation and the limits of striking-only success
They celebrate Rountree’s performance and the visible influence of Thai-style technique, sparking jokes about everyone booking trips to Phuket. Joe praises the timing and leg kicks but raises the strategic question of how that style holds up against elite grappling.
- •Rountree’s striking evolution and Thai-style fundamentals
- •Inside leg kicks, timing, and speed as standout tools
- •Concerns about grappling/wrestling vulnerabilities
- •Why training in a sport’s ‘motherland’ can elevate athletes
- 32:02 – 40:02
Jon Jones talk: Stylebender feud, thin 205 landscape, and Thiago Santos danger
They unpack how Jones and Adesanya’s trash talk started and why it’s useful for business even if the size gap is huge. They also argue 205 lacks depth compared to other divisions, then analyze how Santos’ knockout power creates risk even if Jones should be a heavy favorite.
- •Origins and value of Jones vs Adesanya hype
- •The challenge of finding credible contenders at 205
- •Johnny Walker’s potential vs experience gap
- •Thiago Santos’ volatility and how Jones likely game-plans
- 40:02 – 47:00
Heavyweight picture: Brock rumors, DC/Stipe stakes, and contender chaos
They address Brock Lesnar uncertainty and the likely fallback of DC vs Stipe, then debate Stipe’s all-time heavyweight status versus Cain. The conversation branches into heavyweight matchmaking and the importance of activity, rankings, and risk management for champions.
- •Brock Lesnar speculation and how clickbait distorts news
- •Why Stipe’s resume matters historically in the UFC
- •Cain vs Stipe debate (era strength vs defenses)
- •Heavyweight matchmaking: DC, Stipe, Francis, JDS and risks
- 47:00 – 52:06
Askren, wrestling crossovers, and the Herb Dean stoppage debate
Joe discusses Askren’s toughness and wrestling dominance, including the controversial Lawler finish and Herb Dean’s reasoning about neck cranks versus chokes. They also preview Askren vs Masvidal and react to the idea of Askren wrestling Jordan Burroughs.
- •Herb Dean’s perspective: spine/neck-crank danger changes decisions
- •Why the Lawler ending remains controversial to fans
- •Askren vs Masvidal as a stylistic and hype collision
- •Jordan Burroughs vs Askren: curiosity, weight, and legitimacy
- 52:06 – 1:19:42
TJ Dillashaw and EPO: testing limits, punishment, and why athletes cheat
They react to Dillashaw’s admission, discuss how EPO improves recovery and training output, and question how such usage could happen around daily bloodwork claims. The segment widens into the practical realities of anti-doping costs, retroactive testing, and what “fair” consequences look like.
- •Dillashaw apology and the value of owning the truth
- •EPO’s performance effects: recovery, workload, and risk (thick blood)
- •Testing gaps, cost issues, and what USADA does/doesn’t catch
- •Debate over suspensions, lifetime bans, and retroactive testing
- 1:19:42 – 1:44:10
From fight streams to streaming future: piracy, apps, and the end of cable
They return to the ESPN+ friction point and how piracy can increase popularity while still threatening revenue. The discussion expands into the broader trend: live sports moving to apps, cable becoming obsolete, and platforms like Amazon/Hulu changing distribution.
- •Piracy as both a growth engine and business threat
- •Why ease-of-access is the real competitive lever
- •Streaming as the inevitable future for live sports
- •Cable economics vs Netflix/Amazon-style bundles
- 1:44:10 – 2:04:40
Pop culture detour: Bezos divorce money, The Rock’s grind, and modern fame
The conversation veers into Jeff Bezos’ wealth, divorce settlement scale, and how tech giants accumulate power. They also talk about The Rock’s relentless output, social media mastery, and what drives hyper-productive celebrities.
- •Bezos wealth scale and the shock of massive settlements
- •Capitalism, market dominance, and breaking up big companies
- •The Rock’s work ethic and social media as a brand engine
- •Fame today vs fame in earlier eras
- 2:04:40 – 2:24:56
Comedy craft and “cancel culture”: writing, fear, and what audiences punish
They close with a long discussion about stand-up: how Rogan reviews sets, the value of being entertained to create, and which comics “move the needle.” The segment also tackles cultural backlash, edgy comedy, Louis C.K.’s return, and how punishment and forgiveness are negotiated in public.
- •Listening back to sets as ‘mental reps’ and editing tools
- •Comics who push boundaries (Burr, Joey Diaz) and why it matters
- •How social/media outrage changes risk calculus for comedians
- •Louis C.K. discussion: wrongdoing, context, consequences, and comeback
