JRE MMA Show #110 with Craig Jones & Alex Volkanovski

Episode Summary

Main Topics

This episode features UFC Featherweight Champion Alex Volkanovski and BJJ luminary Craig Jones, diving into elite combat sports. Discussions cover Volkanovski's "Ultimate Fighter" coaching, rivalry with Brian Ortega, and scientific fight preparation, including a severe COVID-19 battle. Other key areas: leg locks under John Danaher, bizarre combat injuries, and social media shadow banning.

Key Discussion Points

• TUF Coaching & Ortega Rivalry: Volkanovski details "Ultimate Fighter" coaching, criticizing rival Brian Ortega as "fake" and "easily triggered"—a tactic for their September fight. Jones, his grappling coach, humorously shot a takedown during a kickboxing session.
• Leg Locks & Grappling Evolution: Guests trace the rise of leg locks from 2015, crediting John Danaher's system. Jones learned advanced leg locks by reverse-engineering moves from Danaher's students (e.g., Garry Tonon), noting EBI's role in popularizing submissions.
• Extreme Combat Injuries: Volkanovski and Jones recount gruesome leg breaks (Chris Weidman, Tyrone Spong) and grapplers like Vinnie Magalhães refusing to tap, resulting in broken bones. Jones vividly describes Vinnie's fibula snapping.
• Elite Fight Preparation: Volkanovski details City Kickboxing's scientific training and precise recovery. He shares his severe COVID-19 infection (pneumonia, coughing blood) during camp, illustrating fighters' immune system vulnerability.
• Shadow Banning & Social Media: Craig Jones discusses his Instagram shadow ban for filming WWII Nazi symbols in a Texas pawn shop, questioning content moderation. The discussion extended to the swastika's historical use and Japan altering its Manji symbol for the Olympics.

Notable Moments

• COVID Test Prank on Ortega: Craig Jones almost got fired from "The Ultimate Fighter" for a prank involving Brian Ortega's COVID-19 oral swab, angering producers.
• Volkanovski's Lungs Shift: Post-injury hospitalization, Alex Volkanovski's lungs shifted upwards from prolonged leg elevation, requiring special breathing exercises for safe air travel.
• Danaher's Emu War Dive: Craig Jones recounts telling John Danaher about Australia's "Emu War." Danaher immediately researched and became an expert on the military's failed campaign.

Key Takeaways

This episode offers insight into elite combat athletes' demanding lives, highlighting Volkanovski’s rigorous training and Jones’s pragmatic approach to injuries. Learn about cutting-edge fight preparation, grappling evolution, and the profound physical/mental tolls of competing. It underscores how martial arts builds resilience and discipline.