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JRE MMA Show #91 with Radio Rahim

Joe sits down with boxing reporter and journalist Radio Rahim. Check out the SecondsOut YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEVVENPnHv-kcp2PqQuJvHg

Joe RoganhostRadio RahimguestDeontay Wilderguest
Feb 12, 20202h 22mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

From Viral ‘To This Day’ Clash To Boxing’s Deep Cultural Roots

  1. Joe Rogan and boxing interviewer Radio Rahim break down the infamous Deontay Wilder “to this day” interview, unpacking what really happened, how it went viral, and how it reshaped both men’s public identities.
  2. Rahim explains the cultural and historical context behind Wilder’s comments on 400 years of Black struggle, and how a misunderstood phrase (“your people”) turned him into a lightning rod for accusations of being an “Uncle Tom.”
  3. They broaden the conversation into the culture of combat sports: the danger and beauty of boxing and MMA, judging controversies, PEDs, sparring damage, and the unique pressures fighters face compared to other athletes.
  4. Along the way, they touch on art, mugshots, social media toxicity, anonymity, stand‑up comedy, and the business and matchmaking realities shaping today’s boxing and MMA landscapes.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Viral moments are rarely understood in full context.

Rahim’s Wilder clip was trimmed to one minute for Instagram, omitting his careful setup and follow‑up; that edit turned a nuanced exchange into a meme that defined him publicly and sparked huge backlash.

Language choices can trigger deep cultural sensitivities.

Rahim’s decision to quote Wilder with “your people” (instead of “our people”) was journalistically accurate but interpreted by many as distancing himself from Black struggle, showing how wording shapes perceived allegiance.

Combat sports carry unique moral and commentary responsibilities.

Rogan and Rahim argue that you can’t treat fighters like typical sports figures; they risk their lives and brains, so flippant or shtick‑driven criticism (like some TV hot‑take styles) is seen as deeply disrespectful.

Judging and officiating in combat sports need modernization.

They criticize three‑judge systems, lack of video angles, and “human error” traditions, suggesting more judges, monitors, and possibly remote panels to reduce robberies in both boxing and MMA.

Most long‑term brain damage comes from the gym, not just fight night.

Rahim cites Roy Jones Jr.’s view that endless hard sparring—not just the televised bouts—does the real cumulative damage, raising questions about how camps should be structured.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

Those images represent these moments where society tried to contain these wild people.

— Joe Rogan (on his collection of celebrity mugshot art)

It’s almost like it’s illegal to be exceptional. You have to break the law to make the imprint on society that you want to make.

— Radio Rahim

I’m not speaking for him, I’m quoting what he said. He said, ‘My people have been fighting for 400 years,’ so I can’t take possession of your quote.

— Radio Rahim (on using ‘your people’ with Wilder)

You can’t bring your shtick to this shit.

— Radio Rahim (on hot‑take styles in combat sports coverage)

If you still think you can do it, it’s hard to stop doing it.

— Radio Rahim (on fighters struggling to retire)

Origins and impact of the Deontay Wilder “to this day” viral interviewCultural, racial, and historical context in boxing trash talk and promotionOnline backlash, cancel culture, and the psychology of comment sectionsHow combat sports media evolved: Rahim’s path from gym cameraman to interviewerTechnical and cultural comparisons between boxing and MMAFighter safety: sparring damage, brain injuries, judging, and PEDsCurrent and future marquee boxing matchups (Wilder–Fury, Spence–Crawford, Pacquiao, Canelo, Joshua, etc.)

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