JRE MMA Show #65 with Corey Anderson

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• Bow Hunting as a Mental Outlet: Corey discusses his lifelong passion for bow hunting and how it serves as a form of meditation and balance, especially after intense fights, helping him clear his mind.
• Diet and Weight Management Transformation: A significant portion of the conversation revolves around his shift from aggressive weight cutting to prioritizing strength and size, inspired by advice to "eat more," leading to improved performance and recovery.
• Elite Cardio and Mental Toughness: Rogan highlights Anderson's legendary cardio, which he attributes to his wrestling background and a strong mental approach to pushing through fatigue during fights and training.
• Rigorous Training Camp Discipline: Corey details his meticulous and highly disciplined approach to fight camps, emphasizing punctuality, specific scheduling, and an unwavering commitment to his routine.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• Corey found balance in his life through hunting, realizing he was previously "25/8" in the gym, leading to mental burnout. Hunting provided a much-needed mental break.
• A pivotal moment in his career was when Jimmy Manuel advised him to eat more and gain size, a complete reversal from his previous weight-cutting strategy. This led to walking around 20-30 lbs heavier but feeling stronger and recovering better.
• The importance of hydration for brain health and mitigating the effects of blows, linked to his new diet philosophy.
• His diet transformation from eating ramen noodles and cafeteria food as a college wrestler to a strict regimen of "meat, potatoes, and rice" with clean protein from wild game (deer, turkey), drastically improving his energy levels.
• The profound impact of mental fortitude in fighting and training: "When I'm tired, I'll never show it. It's like I just gotta act fresh and get through it."
• His admiration for runner Steve Prefontaine's quote: "Doing anything less than your best is a waste of a gift," which influences his "all-out" approach to starting fights.
• Corey's extreme punctuality and intolerance for lateness in his training partners, viewing camp as a serious professional commitment.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "I found my balance." - Corey Anderson on discovering hunting as a mental escape.
• "You got to eat, you got to feed yourself." - Jimmy Manuel's advice that revolutionized Corey's approach to his physique.
• "I'll have the worst not now but before I didn't know anything about nutrition cuz I wrestle heavy weight from freshman in high school my senior in college and I fought heavy weight instead of Ultimate Fighter so I never had to worry about the diet you know I eat ramen noodles." - Corey reflecting on his past diet.
• "Doing anything less than your best is a waste of a gift." - Corey quoting Steve Prefontaine, explaining his mindset.
• "When I'm tired, I'll never show it. It's like I just gotta act fresh and get through it. It can only last so long." - Corey on his mental approach to cardio and pushing through fatigue.
• "Long as you train, eat, rest, you're giving your body time to rest and recover, get to bed by a certain time so you get at least seven eight hours of sleep, it's kind of hard to over train." - Corey's perspective on overtraining.

Overall Themes

• Holistic Performance Enhancement: The episode highlights that peak athletic performance isn't just about physical training, but also encompasses mental well-being, strategic nutrition, and disciplined recovery.
• The Power of Mindset: Corey repeatedly emphasizes how a strong mental game and a belief in outlasting opponents are as crucial as physical prowess, a philosophy evident in his cardio and fight strategy.
• Continuous Adaptation and Growth: Anderson's journey demonstrates the importance of being open to changing established routines (like diet and weight management) and adapting training methods for long-term improvement and career longevity.
• Discipline as a Cornerstone: Whether in training, diet, or personal life, discipline emerges as a core value for Corey, driving his success and consistency in a demanding sport.