CHAPTERS
- 0:02 – 1:42
Bowhunting roots, TechnoHunt addiction, and why fighters love archery
Joe and Corey open by bonding over TechnoHunt and quickly move into Corey’s long history with hunting. Corey explains how he started bowhunting as a teenager and why it became a year-round obsession alongside MMA training.
- 1:42 – 3:40
Hunting as balance and mental reset after losses (the OSP aftermath)
Corey describes how hunting became a form of meditation and a key tool for emotional recovery after the OSP loss. He explains that getting out into the woods helped him stop ruminating, regain confidence, and find life balance beyond nonstop training.
- 3:40 – 5:00
From staying tiny to getting stronger: walk-around weight, hydration, and durability
The conversation shifts to Corey’s evolution from obsessively staying near 205 to strategically carrying more mass. He explains how extra weight improved recovery, hydration, and punch resistance, plus how he now plans his cut more deliberately.
- 5:00 – 9:05
Building size the simple way: lifting, compound work, and 'meat-potatoes-rice'
Corey details the practical changes that added muscle: heavier lifting, compound movements, and a high-calorie consistent diet. He credits guidance from his brother and a nutrition contact he met by chance, turning bulking into a repeatable system.
- 9:05 – 14:36
From ramen to real fuel: clean eating, energy levels, and wild game protein
Corey contrasts his old wrestling-era “survival diet” with structured nutrition. He explains how clean meals improved daily energy and sleep, and Joe highlights the advantage of wild game—especially with Corey harvesting huge amounts of deer meat.
- 14:36 – 18:55
Cardio as a weapon: wrestling mindset, 'act fresh,' and breaking opponents
Joe praises Corey’s gas tank and they unpack how it became a hallmark of his style. Corey ties it to wrestling culture, mental toughness, and training habits that condition him to recover quickly and pressure opponents late.
- 18:55 – 29:11
Camp structure and intensity: scheduling, punctuality, sparring rules, and leadership
Corey explains how tightly he organizes fight camp, down to training bags, commutes, and partner rotations. He discusses when to spar hard vs. technical, and how he leads training partners—sometimes by being brutally unforgiving when preparation slips.
- 29:11 – 31:10
New Jersey’s ‘unheralded’ super-camp and the Mark Henry effect
Joe and Corey break down why the New Jersey scene quietly produces elite fighters. Corey highlights Mark Henry’s coaching brilliance and the team environment with fighters like Zabit, Marlon Moraes, Eddie Alvarez, and others rotating through.
- 31:10 – 36:09
Mark Henry’s secret language: combo codes, multi-language systems, and constant reinvention
Corey explains Mark Henry’s unique system of coded instructions—sometimes in multiple languages—to keep fighters sharp and unpredictable. They discuss how codes change after fights, how they’re drilled into muscle memory, and why the approach overwhelms even champions at first.
- 36:09 – 42:52
Winning vs. entertaining: OSP lesson, fan pressure, and why Corey stopped chasing hype
Corey and Joe discuss how public expectations can sabotage good game plans. Corey revisits the OSP head-kick moment as a direct result of deviating under crowd pressure, then argues that many fans don’t value true MMA winning the way they value highlight-reel knockouts.
- 42:52 – 46:20
Fueling chip-on-shoulder motivation: negativity online and proving people wrong
Joe urges Corey to stop reading comments, framing online negativity as ‘junk food for the brain.’ Corey admits he’s wired to prove doubters wrong, tracing that impulse back to childhood experiences, coaches, and a lifetime of being underestimated.
- 46:20 – 1:18:56
Origin story: injuries, racism, bad coaches, and the mindset transformation
Corey gives a long, personal account of how setbacks shaped him—early laziness, a brutal ankle injury, and the humiliation of being doubted when he was genuinely hurt. He also describes growing up as the only Black family in his area, being profiled, and dealing with a controlling college coach who tried to break him.
- 1:18:56 – 1:49:52
Ben Askren ‘tricks’ him into MMA: Rufusport baptism, sparring day shock, fast UFC rise
Corey explains how Ben Askren stealth-recruited him into MMA by sending him to Rufusport under the pretense of wrestling training. He recounts a chaotic first sparring session (including rounds with Pettis) and the rapid career acceleration that followed—reaching the UFC with almost no traditional amateur buildup.
- 1:49:52 – 2:02:36
UFC politics, rankings frustration, and Jon Jones as the mountain to climb
Corey vents about rankings that don’t reflect wins over top opponents and recounts fight-week frustrations tied to superstar treatment at the PI. He also breaks down Jon Jones’ greatness, why beating him is the ultimate goal, and how perceived unfairness fuels Corey’s motivation.
- 2:02:36 – 2:33:20
Mental training and recovery stack: BrainTap, float tanks, dreams, and body maintenance
Joe asks about mental coaching, and Corey outlines the tools he uses to manage anxiety, negativity, and recovery. He discusses BrainTap sessions, float tanks, and how vivid ‘loss dreams’ once affected him—plus his broader therapy routine (cryo, massage, ice baths, yoga).
- 2:33:20 – 3:10:51
Back to hunting: elk plans, gear talk, HECS suits, and making hunting more inclusive
They close by returning to Corey’s real passion—hunting—covering elk plans, arrow setups, and controversial tech like HECS suits. Corey explains his mission with YouTube: showing hunting as a culture and discipline (not just killing), and expanding who feels welcome in it.
