JRE MMA Show #43 with Brendan Schaub
Brendan Schaub (guest), Joe Rogan (host), Narrator, Narrator, Narrator, Narrator, Narrator
In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, featuring Brendan Schaub and Joe Rogan, JRE MMA Show #43 with Brendan Schaub explores rogan and Schaub Deep-Dive Conor–Khabib, UFC Chaos, Culture, Comedy Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub spend most of the episode breaking down upcoming UFC cards, especially Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov and the broader chaos around UFC matchmaking, weight-cutting, and USADA suspensions.
Rogan and Schaub Deep-Dive Conor–Khabib, UFC Chaos, Culture, Comedy
Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub spend most of the episode breaking down upcoming UFC cards, especially Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov and the broader chaos around UFC matchmaking, weight-cutting, and USADA suspensions.
They contrast fighters’ legacies (Conor, Khabib, GSP, Jon Jones, DC, Ronda, Mousasi, etc.), speculate on future super-fights, and criticize promotional decisions like UFC 230’s uncertain main event and the lack of a 165 lb division.
Outside MMA, they riff on pop culture (superhero movies, comics, Disneyland, theme-park rides, Bravo reality TV, Broadway), body image, racism, #MeToo, Louis C.K., and the ethics of redemption.
The show ends on a surprisingly emotional note when Schaub offers to cover fellow fighter Ray Borg’s child’s medical bills, illustrating how fatherhood has changed his outlook.
Key Takeaways
Conor–Khabib is viewed as the most dangerous, legacy-defining fight for both men.
Rogan and Schaub see Khabib as the best grappler and Conor as the best striker the UFC has had at lightweight; they predict a brutal, competitive fight rather than a simple ‘Conor KO or Khabib maul’ scenario, emphasizing psychological pressure, footwork, and cardio under extreme stakes.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
UFC 230’s handling exposes promotional and structural issues in the organization.
They mock the ‘TBA vs. ...
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
USADA’s processes and communication are damaging fighter careers, even when athletes are exonerated.
The discussion of Jon Jones, Sean O’Malley, Josh Barnett, and Werdum underscores how long investigations, public accusations, and opaque ‘substantial assistance’ deals can stain reputations and steal prime years, with little accountability when agencies are wrong.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Weight cutting is described as MMA’s number-one systemic problem.
They cite Max Holloway’s failed cut, long-term body adaptation, and Conor’s own comments to argue that drastic cuts are dangerous, shorten careers, and should be mitigated by pushing fighters up one division and creating intermediate classes like 165 lbs.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Fighter legacies and matchmaking are often misaligned with merit.
Examples like Gegard Mousasi leaving for Bellator, Ben Askren never signing with UFC, and Khabib’s relatively thin resume compared to his record show how business, timing, and promotion shape careers as much as actual skill and accomplishment.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
In comedy, work ethic, ruthless self-editing, and authenticity matter more than tenure.
Rogan and Schaub talk candidly about taping specials, watching their own sets on video, and the laziness/self‑sabotage common among comics, making the case that newer comics with pro‑athlete discipline can legitimately leapfrog veterans.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Fatherhood profoundly shifts priorities and deepens empathy, even for tough ex-fighters.
Schaub becomes emotional describing Ray Borg’s sick child and offers to cover the medical bills; both men reflect on how having kids makes them more cautious, more loving, and less tolerant of absent or irresponsible parents.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Notable Quotes
“Conor takes all the chips on that poker table, puts it all in the middle and goes, ‘I’m all in. I do well under these circumstances. How do you respond?’”
— Joe Rogan
“You know what Khabib’s gonna do. It’s way easier to train for Khabib than it is Conor.”
— Brendan Schaub
“There has to be a path to redemption for anyone who’s done anything other than actual rape or murder, right?”
— Joe Rogan (on Louis C.K. and #MeToo fallout)
“Weight cutting is the number one primary problem with MMA.”
— Joe Rogan
“I’ll take all that money. You can have it, Ray… I’m fucking rich.”
— Brendan Schaub (offering his show proceeds to help Ray Borg’s child)
Questions Answered in This Episode
Does the UFC prioritize short-term promotional narratives over building coherent divisions and fighter legacies, and how does that affect the sport long term?
Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub spend most of the episode breaking down upcoming UFC cards, especially Conor McGregor vs. ...
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
How should fans and the media navigate cases like Jon Jones, where science, USADA policy, and an athlete’s past behavior create an ambiguous story?
They contrast fighters’ legacies (Conor, Khabib, GSP, Jon Jones, DC, Ronda, Mousasi, etc. ...
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
What structural reforms—new weight classes, hydration tests, fighter unions—would meaningfully reduce the dangers of extreme weight cutting in MMA?
Outside MMA, they riff on pop culture (superhero movies, comics, Disneyland, theme-park rides, Bravo reality TV, Broadway), body image, racism, #MeToo, Louis C. ...
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Where should the line be drawn between punishment and redemption for public figures in the #MeToo era, and who gets to decide when a ‘path back’ is acceptable?
The show ends on a surprisingly emotional note when Schaub offers to cover fellow fighter Ray Borg’s child’s medical bills, illustrating how fatherhood has changed his outlook.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Is it ultimately better for elite fighters like Khabib to retire early and undefeated, or to keep taking super-fights at the risk of tarnishing their records and health?
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Transcript Preview
Still no main event for Madison Square Garden.
I know. Four, three, two, one.
(sighs)
Booyah. Yeah, no main event for Madison Square Garden so far. The rumors were Jon Jones and Gustafsson, but I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know why that hasn't materialized.
Are they just waiting to announce it till after the whole Conor-Khabib thing?
Why would they do that? I think if they announce something, it's gotta be this weekend. I mean, we're ... What is it, November 3rd or something?
It's soon.
So it's a month.
It's super soon. Month-
Literally a month. Today's the 3rd, right? 2nd? Today's the 2nd.
Today's the 2nd.
Yeah. Fuck, man. That ain't good.
I th- ... Yeah. Maybe they just don't wanna steal any shine from the Conor-Khabib fight.
(sighs) I don't think so.
I don't know, man.
I think they just don't have a card yet.
I think they, they were banking on Jones to-
Right.
... fill that main event, but it's been tricky to fill that slot. But also, why not have ... If, if you're gonna do this, why not announce Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier as your main event? That's a great main event. I can ride with that.
Who's gonna be the main event though?
Why not do that and then advent ... then announce Jon Jones and Gustafsson or Jon Jones and Cain if you want to?
But the main event is to be announced versus to be determined.
(laughs)
(laughs) That's the weirdest main event I've ever seen. I've never seen a fucking pay-per-view, um, a month out that says, "To be announced," versus, "To be determined," in the main event.
Does that mean they have somebody booked and then they're not an opponent for them and they're not even announcing it?
Ooh.
Or they just, like, decided to just be funny and write both versions?
That's a very good point, James.
That's a good point, James.
That's a very good point.
(laughs)
I would say they have no idea.
I think you just nailed it.
Maybe.
I think they have a guy that they wanna fight another guy. I'd heard, uh ... Actually I heard from you. (laughs)
(laughs) Damn, bro. (laughs)
That they were trying to do Jon Jones versus Cain.
That was the rumor mill that I got-
Ooh.
A little birdie told me.
Yeah, that would ... I, I'm all over that.
I would be all over that.
I'd be all over that.
This card's actually better than this weekend's card.
Stylebender's fighting Derek Brunson. That's the sleeper.
That's a great fight.
That's the sleeper on that card right there.
We got Luke Rockhold/Chris Weidman too.
Install uListen to search the full transcript and get AI-powered insights
Get Full TranscriptGet more from every podcast
AI summaries, searchable transcripts, and fact-checking. Free forever.
Add to Chrome