JRE MMA Show #83 with Firas Zahabi

1. 0:02 – 3:28

   Deontay Wilder’s “touch of death” and the art of waiting to win

   1. JRJoe Rogan0:02

      If you're listening to this, uh, uh, an audio version, you're denied the beauty of my salmon-covered, colored T-shirt. Beautiful Tristar-

   2. FZFiras Zahabi0:11

      You look good in it.

   3. JRJoe Rogan0:12

      I look very good-

   4. FZFiras Zahabi0:13

      (laughs)

   5. JRJoe Rogan0:13

      ... in your shirt. Thanks for coming here, brother.

   6. FZFiras Zahabi0:15

      Pleasure. Glad to be here.

   7. JRJoe Rogan0:16

      Pleasure to have you, man. I use one of your expressions all the time, the touch of death. And there is no better example than what we saw Saturday night with Deontay Wilder. Jesus Christ, can that guy punch!

   8. FZFiras Zahabi0:29

      I had him losing all the rounds.

   9. JRJoe Rogan0:31

      Yeah. Me too.

   10. FZFiras Zahabi0:31

       And, uh, I thought one round was really close, could've go either way, but I had it six to none. And that right hand, my God.

   11. JRJoe Rogan0:38

       (laughs) It's so crazy. It doesn't even make sense.

   12. FZFiras Zahabi0:41

       When you look at that shot, it landed it above, like, kind of like in the forehead, this area.

   13. JRJoe Rogan0:47

       Yeah.

   14. FZFiras Zahabi0:47

       Not on th- not even on the chin.

   15. JRJoe Rogan0:49

       No.

   16. FZFiras Zahabi0:50

       Usually here, if you're a powerful puncher, you could daze a guy.

   17. JRJoe Rogan0:53

       Yeah.

   18. FZFiras Zahabi0:53

       But put him out the way he did?

   19. JRJoe Rogan0:54

       Yeah.

   20. FZFiras Zahabi0:55

       Wow!

   21. JRJoe Rogan0:56

       And no windup too.

   22. FZFiras Zahabi0:57

       That's... No windup.

   23. JRJoe Rogan0:57

       Just right from here, blap!

   24. FZFiras Zahabi0:59

       That's touch of death.

   25. JRJoe Rogan1:00

       Crazy.

   26. FZFiras Zahabi1:01

       Touch of death.

   27. JRJoe Rogan1:01

       Like nobody ever... Think about that guy's record, 41 knockouts, one decision, one draw.

   28. FZFiras Zahabi1:08

       It's incredible.

   29. JRJoe Rogan1:09

       Undefeated, 41 knockouts in 42 fights.

   30. FZFiras Zahabi1:14

       Yes.
2. 3:28 – 7:57

   Finding a fighter’s true style: creativity, experimentation, and avoiding “trainer molds”

   1. FZFiras Zahabi3:28

      As I always tell my students, it's, fighting is two things, it's, one is level. You gotta get to a certain level. And then the second thing, you have to figure out your style. Like you have to know everything about what you do. Like for instance, if you look at Ali and Tyson, they fought totally differently. Two equally, in my opinion, like... Okay, we could split hairs and say who was better b- let's say they fought, it would be very competitive. Whoever you think would win in that fight, it would be very competitive. Ali fights the total opposite of Tyson. Ali circles supposedly the wrong way if you look at the book of boxing. They tell you, "Don't circle towards the power side." He doesn't care. In his style, it makes sense. He's up on his toes, he's jabbing, he rarely ever throws a body shot. He throws, he's thrown a handful of body shots in his entire career. Whereas Tyson is the total opposite. He marches forward, he has that peekaboo style, he has that... You know, he's got the gloves tied up to his chin. And a totally different style. If Tyson tried to fight like Ali, he would lose, you know? But they're at the same level, but they figured out, "Hey, what am I good at? What, what advantages do I have physically? What disadvantages do I have physically?" And that's why at one point, you have to figure out your style, and I feel that's where most fighters fall apart. They never-

   2. JRJoe Rogan4:38

      Mm-hmm.

   3. FZFiras Zahabi4:38

      ... figure out their style. They're trying to do what some trainer told them. They're trying to do what the guy they, they most admire in the ring d- does. They never find out exactly how they, what's best for them.

   4. JRJoe Rogan4:46

      Hmm. That's such a good point, because it's such a creative art form in that way. And I b- I do believe that martial arts are an art form. I really do, because to me, it's so beautiful. Like even that right hand that Deontay landed, that to me was gorgeous.

   5. FZFiras Zahabi5:00

      (laughs)

   6. JRJoe Rogan5:00

      There's never been a prettier sunset or more beautiful mountain. Just blap! Watch that s- spray, that s- the, the way you see the spray, the sweat come off his head, and then Ortiz crumbles. And Deontay walks away like this, chest up, like, "Motherfucker, you're not getting up." He knew he wasn't getting up.

   7. FZFiras Zahabi5:16

      He knew, he knew.

   8. JRJoe Rogan5:17

      He knew.

   9. FZFiras Zahabi5:18

      He knew.

   10. JRJoe Rogan5:18

       He knew.

   11. FZFiras Zahabi5:18

       When he dropped him-

   12. JRJoe Rogan5:19

       Yeah.

   13. FZFiras Zahabi5:19

       ... he walked off right away. Like he knew, he was calm, and he went-

   14. JRJoe Rogan5:20

       It's the way he walked off too.

   15. FZFiras Zahabi5:22

       Yeah. He knew.

   16. JRJoe Rogan5:22

       It's just like he knows.

   17. FZFiras Zahabi5:24

       He knew.

   18. JRJoe Rogan5:25

       God-

   19. FZFiras Zahabi5:25

       He knew.

   20. JRJoe Rogan5:25

       ... damn, that guy's got crazy power. But th- but what you said is so important because i- it's a creative endeavor. You're, you're trying to figure out how to land shots, and you're also trying to disguise what your ideas are or what your tactics are. And you gotta figure out what's, works best for your body type. And that's so open-ended, like martial arts are so, it's so open-ended. Once-

   21. FZFiras Zahabi5:50

       Mm-hmm.

   22. JRJoe Rogan5:50

       ... the referee says fight, there's all this creativity involved. And that's something that I think a lot of people don't really appreciate.

   23. FZFiras Zahabi5:57

       100%. Sometimes you have a trainer who kills that creativity-

   24. JRJoe Rogan6:00

       Hmm.

   25. FZFiras Zahabi6:00

       ... because he tells you, "Look, this is how you fight."

   26. JRJoe Rogan6:02

       Right.

   27. FZFiras Zahabi6:03

       And if you go outside of that mold, no, no, you're reprimanded.Yeah. So me- me, if a fighter wants to drop his hands, should you drop your hands in a fight or should you hold them up? Well, it depends what kinda guy you are. If you got incredible eyes and you see shots coming from a mile away and you're- you're successful with your hands down, or one hand down, per se, let's say, then keep doing it. But you gotta- that's why I- I think sparring is so important because when we spar, we actually try it.

   28. JRJoe Rogan6:26

       Mm-hmm.

   29. FZFiras Zahabi6:26

       Now we're testing. We're testing, "Hey, does this airplane fly or is it gonna crash and burn?" Well, we better test it in the gym before we take it out in the arena and find out it doesn't fly. And I always tell guys, "Look, if- if you're at- if you're fighting with your hands down, show me in practice that you're successful. Then I won't- I won't say anything negative. I won't say- I won't change your style, I'll let it be. But first we have to see that you're successful." Because theories is one thing, but then when you get in there and try, it's a whole other.

   30. JRJoe Rogan6:50

       Hmm. Well, Wonderboy Thompson's an excellent example of that.
3. 7:57 – 10:03

   Stance choices, southpaw advantages, and technique customization (kimura grips, comfort, and leverage)

   1. JRJoe Rogan7:57

      What do you think about fighters who say that even if you're a right-handed person, there's an advantage to fighting as a southpaw because you have your most dextrous-

   2. FZFiras Zahabi8:06

      Mm-hmm.

   3. JRJoe Rogan8:06

      ... hand, the hand that you have the- the most control of, is your lead hand, and you're also fighting in this unusual stance that is only, like... What is southpaws? Like, maybe two out of 10 people, something like that?

   4. FZFiras Zahabi8:16

      Right. Right. Here in the West, yeah.

   5. JRJoe Rogan8:17

      Yeah.

   6. FZFiras Zahabi8:17

      If you go to Asia, it's a lot more, but-

   7. JRJoe Rogan8:19

      Is it really? Oh, I wonder why.

   8. FZFiras Zahabi8:20

      Yeah, the Asians are more southpaw. I think, uh, you know, the- the wheel of the car's on the other side.

   9. JRJoe Rogan8:25

      Oh.

   10. FZFiras Zahabi8:26

       And the sh- stick-shift. I don't know, it's like a left-handed world, almost. A lot of things are the other way around.

   11. JRJoe Rogan8:30

       Huh.

   12. FZFiras Zahabi8:31

       Yeah, like, uh, they drive on the other side of the road, the- the- the driver's on the other side of the car, so I- I don't know, maybe it- maybe it affects the way you develop. But, uh, I agree. Like, I think- I always tell fighters, "Try both sides and see which one you like better."

   13. JRJoe Rogan8:44

       Hmm.

   14. FZFiras Zahabi8:44

       I can't tell you which one you're more comfortable with. Maybe one of your eyes is a stronger, so when-

   15. JRJoe Rogan8:48

       Yes.

   16. FZFiras Zahabi8:48

       ... you're like this, it's- it's kind of killing you, so you need to be like that. You never know until you test. So I like to let the guys figure it out. So when t- people tell me, "Do I grab it like this or like that?" In some instances, there's a right way and a wrong way, f- as far as we know. One way is right, one way is wrong. And sometimes it doesn't make a difference. I tell the guys, "Grab like you're comfortable," because I do it the way I- I like to do it. I don't do it the way my trainer showed me. So in this particular instance, I say it's a question of comfort. Like, people freak out if you grab a kimura like this with your thumb.

   17. JRJoe Rogan9:16

       Mm-hmm.

   18. FZFiras Zahabi9:16

       I don't. In some instances, I grab the kimura with my thumb. In some instances, I don't.

   19. JRJoe Rogan9:20

       Hmm.

   20. FZFiras Zahabi9:21

       So I just show people both and I say, "Look, th- that part, it's up to you."

   21. JRJoe Rogan9:24

       You certainly can finish it w- by using the thumb.

   22. FZFiras Zahabi9:26

       Sure, and in some instances-

   23. JRJoe Rogan9:27

       Yeah.

   24. FZFiras Zahabi9:27

       ... it's stronger with the thumb. In some instances.

   25. JRJoe Rogan9:29

       Yeah, 'cause you have better hand control.

   26. FZFiras Zahabi9:30

       Sure.

   27. JRJoe Rogan9:31

       Yeah. You know, just clamping down on it, you're actually isolating it. Yeah, I mean, some people have just ridiculous y- grip with their hands, too. And that- that- that- that should play a factor in there as well. Do you remember, uh, Semmy Schilt?

   28. FZFiras Zahabi9:43

       Yeah.

   29. JRJoe Rogan9:43

       Semmy Schilt had hands that were as big as this table. He'd grab ahold of guys' wrists-

   30. FZFiras Zahabi9:47

       (laughs)
4. 10:03 – 17:57

   Bellator vs UFC curiosity: Lima’s low kicks, Rory’s future, and risky champ-vs-champ moves

   1. JRJoe Rogan10:03

      Lima, that's- that's an argument for me. That Lima is one of the arguments for me where I feel like there's gotta be, uh, as a fan, I wanna see Lima fight the best 170-pounders in the world, so a co-promotion.

   2. FZFiras Zahabi10:17

      Mm-hmm.

   3. JRJoe Rogan10:17

      I know the UFC never wants to see a co-promotion-

   4. FZFiras Zahabi10:19

      Hmm.

   5. JRJoe Rogan10:19

      ... because that promotes up- it pumps up Bellator, but, uh, right now, Lima, especially after he just decisioned Rory.

   6. FZFiras Zahabi10:25

      Mm-hmm.

   7. JRJoe Rogan10:25

      You know, and the way he knocked out Michael Page.

   8. FZFiras Zahabi10:27

      Mm-hmm.

   9. JRJoe Rogan10:27

      I mean, nobody's- nobody's done that to Page before.

   10. FZFiras Zahabi10:30

       No. No.

   11. JRJoe Rogan10:30

       And the way he did it, like, that guy can put anyone to sleep.

   12. FZFiras Zahabi10:33

       Can I ask you, who- who did you give round one to, Page versus Lima? I thought it was 50-50, like, I was right down the middle.

   13. JRJoe Rogan10:39

       (sighs) I'd have to watch it again because all I remember was Lima starching him.

   14. FZFiras Zahabi10:43

       In round one?

   15. JRJoe Rogan10:43

       You know? No, no, no. When- when did it end?

   16. FZFiras Zahabi10:46

       Uh, round two. Round two, he just-

   17. JRJoe Rogan10:47

       Round two. Yeah.

   18. FZFiras Zahabi10:47

       But he got hurt right before he knocked him out.

   19. JRJoe Rogan10:49

       Yeah. You got-

   20. FZFiras Zahabi10:49

       Like, he got- he got a little wobbled and then he kind of got his base again.

   21. JRJoe Rogan10:52

       Yes.

   22. FZFiras Zahabi10:52

       And then low kick, boom, uppercut.

   23. JRJoe Rogan10:54

       Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

   24. FZFiras Zahabi10:55

       Vicious.

   25. JRJoe Rogan10:56

       Yo, he's- he's so dangerous. He's so dangerous. And his low kicks are some of the best in the world.

   26. FZFiras Zahabi11:00

       Ugh, I never seen better.

   27. JRJoe Rogan11:00

       That first fight with Rory-

   28. FZFiras Zahabi11:02

       Yeah.

   29. JRJoe Rogan11:02

       ... Jesus Christ, that swelling on his leg. Didn't he say that took, like, six months before he could use it right?

   30. FZFiras Zahabi11:07

       Oh, his leg is still not the same. (laughs)
5. 17:57 – 27:05

   Gym culture and brain health: smarter sparring, cumulative concussions, and “practice vs fighting”

   1. JRJoe Rogan17:57

      So if he was compromised and he knew he was compromised, you know ... and you know as well as anybody, there's certain knockouts that you can get in the gym that can fuck a fighter up for months.

   2. FZFiras Zahabi18:05

      Oh, yeah, of course.

   3. JRJoe Rogan18:06

      Yeah.

   4. FZFiras Zahabi18:07

      Pff. I've seen it.

   5. JRJoe Rogan18:07

      Yes.

   6. FZFiras Zahabi18:07

      That's why in the practice room I don't like rough training.I don't like rough training. Like, certain fighters who are coming up to a fight, I'll let it go further. I get it, we need the intensities. But I don't like to go in the gym and see this guy knock out this guy, then this guy knock out this guy, and th-

   7. JRJoe Rogan18:22

      Right, right.

   8. FZFiras Zahabi18:23

      ... what happens, you go in the practice room, there's nobody there the next week for sparring.

   9. JRJoe Rogan18:25

      Right.

   10. FZFiras Zahabi18:26

       And sparring has to be practice, not fighting.

   11. JRJoe Rogan18:28

       Right.

   12. FZFiras Zahabi18:28

       So if I had a world champion and he's sparring and I felt one of his sparring partners was out of control, I would definitely have a talk with him or not use him anymore. Like, when George f- when George spars, I pick all his rounds, but they have to be s- they have to be reasonable rounds, not... And I mean, not touch sparring, but not also being malicious and trying to injure each other.

   13. JRJoe Rogan18:46

       But George told me that you told certain guys to try to knock them out.

   14. FZFiras Zahabi18:49

       Yes.

   15. JRJoe Rogan18:49

       (laughs)

   16. FZFiras Zahabi18:50

       Uh, yeah, this is true also. I put a bounty on him as well.

   17. JRJoe Rogan18:54

       (laughs)

   18. FZFiras Zahabi18:54

       Because the guy's, at one point, he was too famous, nobody wanted to touch him no more.

   19. JRJoe Rogan18:57

       Oh.

   20. FZFiras Zahabi18:57

       And it was too low.

   21. JRJoe Rogan18:58

       Oh, I see.

   22. FZFiras Zahabi18:59

       So I'm like, "Listen-"

   23. JRJoe Rogan19:00

       The level is too low.

   24. FZFiras Zahabi19:00

       "... put him on the ground, I'm gonna Twitter it for you. Your Tinder's gonna explode, you're gonna become famous."

   25. JRJoe Rogan19:06

       (laughs)

   26. FZFiras Zahabi19:06

       "And you're gonna be the number one man on Twit- Tinder, everybody's swiping right for you."

   27. JRJoe Rogan19:09

       (laughs)

   28. FZFiras Zahabi19:09

       "You're the guy who took GSP down." Like, I pumped him up because they're too, "Oh, it's GSP."

   29. JRJoe Rogan19:13

       Right, right.

   30. FZFiras Zahabi19:14

       You know? There- so there's a balance. There's not, there's too little and then there's too much, you know? So s- I mean, if you're trying to, like, uh, throw vicious knees when, you know, like... I- i- if you're, if you're, if I see you're trying to be rough, overly rough, 'cause this is a control, you know if I touch you, I'm gonna back off if I hurt you.
6. 27:05 – 32:20

   Rule sets shape styles: time limits, referee interference, cage debate, and what Pride got right

   1. FZFiras Zahabi27:05

      Look, I think ultimately, the most important martial art is Jujitsu. And I'll tell you why. Because to beat Jujitsu, you need Jujitsu mixed with something else. Boxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, whatever. But you, you gotta have some Jujitsu. Because if you have zero Jujitsu and you're going into the fight, you're gonna get, you're gonna get beat. Styles like Jujitsu need a lot of time. So, if your foundation is Jujitsu ... 'Cause how was Jujitsu developed? In Vale Tudo, the Brazilians had no time limit. When they were fighting in Brazil, it was a two-hour fight, a three-hour fight. So what you took me down and you held me down for three minutes? Nobody cares in Brazil.

   2. JRJoe Rogan27:40

      Right.

   3. FZFiras Zahabi27:40

      In Vale Tudo, nobody cares. The fight will go on till somebody taps.

   4. JRJoe Rogan27:43

      Mm-hmm.

   5. FZFiras Zahabi27:44

      So, takedowns were not as important. The fight's gonna last three, four hours if it has to, you know? The last ... Whatever it is. Why wrestling is being so successful in MMA, one, it's a great sport for sure, but it's s- it's time-sensitive. If I take you down in the middle of the round, you got two and a half minutes to sub me or get back up to your feet. All I gotta do is hold you down, and I won the round. I have to do minimal work. Now, I'm downer ... I'm up a round, you're down a round. You, you gotta get, you gotta come after me now. So, it, it ... There's a time-sensitive issue. However, if I take you down and there's no time limit, I'm gonna behave very differently than if, if I know I can bank in this round or there's just two minutes left. I'm gonna spend that energy to hold you down. I'm gonna spend that energy to kind of, like, shut you down and kind of, like, give you little punches, that are not fight-enders but they're round-winning.

   6. JRJoe Rogan28:29

      Hmm.

   7. FZFiras Zahabi28:29

      So, because we have these rules ... That's why I loved Pride. It was a 10-minute round. Grappling needs more breathing room. It needs more time for it to work.

   8. JRJoe Rogan28:37

      Yes. Yes.

   9. FZFiras Zahabi28:38

      Like, look at Usman versus Demian Maia. In round one, Demian Maia had a partial back take against the fence, and Usman was like, almost giving his back to me.

   10. JRJoe Rogan28:45

       He got fucked by the referee.

   11. FZFiras Zahabi28:47

       The referee ... The state should never interfere. It's not a real fight. You got out of my controls because of the state, because of the referee, because of the, the whistle, because of the bell, whatever it is. We have to start in this position again. If, if I take you down on the ground and the bell rings, I should start again on the ground. There should be some basic positions that, uh, the referee's gonna choose, "We're starting in this position because that was the closest to what you guys had when we, when we ended the fight, the round."

   12. JRJoe Rogan29:14

       I like that.

   13. FZFiras Zahabi29:14

       Yeah.

   14. JRJoe Rogan29:14

       I like that.

   15. FZFiras Zahabi29:15

       How many fights would change? How much behavior would change? Fighters would train dif- train differently, fight differently. Or make it one 15-minute round.

   16. JRJoe Rogan29:22

       I'd like that too.

   17. FZFiras Zahabi29:23

       That's, that ... Now, you're gonna see Jujitsu.

   18. JRJoe Rogan29:25

       You know what else I like? No cage.

   19. FZFiras Zahabi29:28

       No cage?

   20. JRJoe Rogan29:28

       No cage.

   21. FZFiras Zahabi29:29

       Well, what's it gonna be?

   22. JRJoe Rogan29:29

       How come they can play basketball on a giant court?

   23. FZFiras Zahabi29:32

       (laughs) How about-

   24. JRJoe Rogan29:34

       That's a big place-

   25. FZFiras Zahabi29:35

       It is.

   26. JRJoe Rogan29:35

       ... to play basketball.

   27. FZFiras Zahabi29:36

       It is. But, uh ... Okay, because you think there should be no f- no interference with the fence?

   28. JRJoe Rogan29:40

       How about a football field? Put them in the middle.

   29. FZFiras Zahabi29:42

       (laughs)

   30. JRJoe Rogan29:43

       What are the odds they're ever gonna get to the edges?
7. 32:20 – 55:46

   Danger lines in violence: headbutts, soccer kicks, brutal KOs, and fighter safety tradeoffs

   1. JRJoe Rogan32:20

      You know, I had David Leduc in here, f- from Lethwei.

   2. FZFiras Zahabi32:23

      Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

   3. JRJoe Rogan32:24

      And, you know, I mean, if you watch his fights-

   4. FZFiras Zahabi32:25

      Yeah.

   5. JRJoe Rogan32:26

      ... you l- watch some of those Lethwei fights, you realize, like, "That's legit, man."

   6. FZFiras Zahabi32:30

      Rory, once he was like, uh, he was bet- between contracts and he's like, "Book me a fight at Lethwei." I'm like-

   7. JRJoe Rogan32:37

      (laughs)

   8. FZFiras Zahabi32:37

      I'm like, "Why do you wanna fight Lethwei?" He's like, "Because now's the time or else I'll never get to fight with headbutts before I resign." He wanted me to take him down to the jungles of Le- uh, Lethwei-

   9. JRJoe Rogan32:45

      Oh, Jesus, give me a-

   10. FZFiras Zahabi32:46

       ... and book him a fight for $10-

   11. JRJoe Rogan32:48

       (laughs)

   12. FZFiras Zahabi32:49

       ... against some guy we don't know. No medical test, uh, you know, "You're the foreigner."

   13. JRJoe Rogan32:53

       That's hilarious.

   14. FZFiras Zahabi32:53

       Uh, they wanna, you know, like, i- i- it's just ... He's nuts. I was like, "No, that's a really bad idea." He's like, "Come on, I'll never get to fight with headbutts or else." I'm like, "Okay, I hope you never fight with headbutts."

   15. JRJoe Rogan33:01

       (laughs)

   16. FZFiras Zahabi33:01

       "I, I, I hope the day never comes."

   17. JRJoe Rogan33:03

       Well, I mean, you remember the old days? Like-

   18. FZFiras Zahabi33:06

       Yes.

   19. JRJoe Rogan33:06

       ... with Mark Hohman? Mark Hohman used to take guys down-

   20. FZFiras Zahabi33:09

       Mm-hmm.

   21. JRJoe Rogan33:09

       ... and smash their face with his head.

   22. FZFiras Zahabi33:11

       Mm-hmm.

   23. JRJoe Rogan33:11

       He would hold onto their biceps and boom, headbutt you and punch you in the face. I mean-

   24. FZFiras Zahabi33:15

       A very dangerous attack.

   25. JRJoe Rogan33:16

       Whoo!

   26. FZFiras Zahabi33:17

       Kill it.

   27. JRJoe Rogan33:17

       Especially from a giant dude like that? Uh-

   28. FZFiras Zahabi33:20

       Very, very dangerous.

   29. JRJoe Rogan33:21

       Yeah. D- it's, it's also effective. I mean, the, the argument is, look, if you can punch me in the head, why can't I use my head to hit you, right? If you can kick me in the head, i- what is s- so much more dangerous about me using my forehead to hit you with?

   30. FZFiras Zahabi33:37

       Long-term, long-term, uh, repercussion, don't you think?
8. 55:46 – 57:39

   Women’s MMA growth and the UFC Performance Institute arms race (Vegas and China)

   1. JRJoe Rogan55:46

      It's interesting that we're starting to see the level of female MMA really elevate now.

   2. FZFiras Zahabi55:51

      Mm-hmm.

   3. JRJoe Rogan55:51

      And like, uh, of course Amanda, you know, Amanda Nunes, who fights, she fights in December.

   4. FZFiras Zahabi55:57

      Mm-hmm.

   5. JRJoe Rogan55:57

      Right?

   6. FZFiras Zahabi55:57

      De Randamie.

   7. JRJoe Rogan55:57

      She's fighting ... Which is a really good fight, man, that a lot of people aren't talking about.

   8. FZFiras Zahabi56:00

      Mm-hmm.

   9. JRJoe Rogan56:01

      Germaine de Randamie is a beast.

   10. FZFiras Zahabi56:03

       Mm-hmm.

   11. JRJoe Rogan56:03

       She's really good, man. Super, super technical.

   12. FZFiras Zahabi56:06

       Mm-hmm.

   13. JRJoe Rogan56:06

       You know, she'd beat a man. She beat a man.

   14. FZFiras Zahabi56:08

       She fought a man, right? Ine-

   15. JRJoe Rogan56:09

       Yeah.

   16. FZFiras Zahabi56:09

       Yeah, she did fight a man.

   17. JRJoe Rogan56:10

       She beat him. Yeah.

   18. FZFiras Zahabi56:11

       Yeah.

   19. JRJoe Rogan56:11

       She fought a guy and beat him. I think she stopped him. I think she KO'd him.

   20. FZFiras Zahabi56:14

       Yeah. Wouldn't surprise me.

   21. JRJoe Rogan56:15

       That wouldn't surprise me either, man. She's super, super technical.

   22. FZFiras Zahabi56:18

       Yeah.

   23. JRJoe Rogan56:19

       Yeah. Um, but Amanda and Valentina Shevchenko, they represent the highest level right now.

   24. FZFiras Zahabi56:25

       Mm-hmm.

   25. JRJoe Rogan56:25

       And, and Weili Zhang, right?

   26. FZFiras Zahabi56:27

       Yes.

   27. JRJoe Rogan56:27

       As you say, Zhang Weili.

   28. FZFiras Zahabi56:29

       As-

   29. JRJoe Rogan56:29

       After she ... I mean, when she won the title like that, I was like, "Holy shit." Like, that's another one. I mean, and that woman being from China-

   30. FZFiras Zahabi56:36

       (laughs)
9. 57:39 – 1:26:41

   Kevin Lee joins Firas: discipline, weight-cut mechanics, and building a champion mindset

   1. JRJoe Rogan57:39

      Yeah. Um, listen man, Kevin Lee, coming up to you worked out. (laughs)

   2. FZFiras Zahabi57:45

      Thank you, by the way.

   3. JRJoe Rogan57:46

      My pleasure.

   4. FZFiras Zahabi57:46

      I appreciate it.

   5. JRJoe Rogan57:47

      I knew it.

   6. FZFiras Zahabi57:47

      You set us up together.

   7. JRJoe Rogan57:48

      I knew-

   8. FZFiras Zahabi57:49

      I-

   9. JRJoe Rogan57:49

      ... it though.

   10. FZFiras Zahabi57:49

       Yeah.

   11. JRJoe Rogan57:49

       When I was talking to him, I knew he was like a little bit lost and trying to figure out-

   12. FZFiras Zahabi57:53

       Yeah.

   13. JRJoe Rogan57:53

       ... his way. And I said, "Man, you need a head coach." And I'm like, "Who fights like you? George."

   14. FZFiras Zahabi57:59

       Mm-hmm.

   15. JRJoe Rogan57:59

       George St-Pierre.

   16. FZFiras Zahabi58:00

       Yeah.

   17. JRJoe Rogan58:00

       I mean, not saying he's the same level as George, but it's ... George fights like that with wrestling and great striking and submissions, he mixes it all up, he's unpredictable in his attacks. I'm like, they're very similar.

   18. FZFiras Zahabi58:13

       Mm-hmm.

   19. JRJoe Rogan58:14

       They're ... Neither one of them are particularly long, both guys are very physically strong. I'm like, "Come on, man." Like this, this is the guy.

   20. FZFiras Zahabi58:21

       He, he, he has a great training team already. He doesn't have somebody to kind of put it all together.

   21. JRJoe Rogan58:25

       Yes.

   22. FZFiras Zahabi58:26

       And you know, we're talking about styles and level, he's a, he's a bit of a ... Like his personality is a wildcat. Like he's a, he's a, you know, he's a, he's a, he's a commando. And me, I'm the opposite. I'm like calculated, I'm a scalpel.

   23. JRJoe Rogan58:39

       Yeah.

   24. FZFiras Zahabi58:39

       He's a chainsaw and a sca- ... Together it makes a great, uh, blend.

   25. JRJoe Rogan58:42

       Yes.

   26. FZFiras Zahabi58:42

       'Cause you need, you need both.

   27. JRJoe Rogan58:43

       Little bit of discipline, little bit of wildness.

   28. FZFiras Zahabi58:44

       Yes.

   29. JRJoe Rogan58:45

       Yeah.

   30. FZFiras Zahabi58:45

       There's a time and place for both.

Episode duration: 3:06:55