JRE MMA Show #84 with Brendan Schaub

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• Brendan Schaub's Retirement from MMA: Joe Rogan recounts his controversial "intervention" podcast with Schaub, expressing his deep concern for Schaub's health and career trajectory.
• Fighter Safety and Deterioration: Joe emphasizes the tragic reality of many fighters continuing past their prime, leading to long-term health issues and identity crises.
• Jon Jones' Legacy and Future: Discussion on Jones' recent performances, the "picogram" USADA controversy, and his potential move to the heavyweight division, including matchups against Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou.
• Israel Adesanya's Rise to Stardom: Joe and Brendan discuss Adesanya's exceptional striking, comparisons to Anderson Silva, and his budding social media feud with Jon Jones.
• MMA Strategy and Technique: Analysis of striking, wrestling, distance management, and how elite athletes like Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya utilize these aspects.
• Historical MMA Fights and Legends: Revisiting iconic bouts like Mirko Cro Cop vs. Wanderlei Silva (Part 2), Cro Cop vs. Dos Caras, and Anderson Silva's dominant run against Chris Leben, Forrest Griffin, and Vitor Belfort.
• USADA's Evolving Drug Testing: Acknowledgment of USADA's improvements in detecting minuscule substances (picograms) and their stance on marijuana use in the sport.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• The Impact of Joe's Intervention: Joe's candid admission of being "a dick" but feeling it was the "only way" to convince Brendan to stop fighting, and Brendan's subsequent gratitude.
• The Identity Crisis of Retired Fighters: Both Joe and Brendan reflect on the difficulty for fighters to find new meaning and identity after leaving a profession that defined them.
• Jon Jones "Playing with His Food": Joe and Brendan's shared observation that Jones is currently fighting in "cruise control" against less stimulating opponents, reserving his full potential for a heavyweight challenge.
• Israel Adesanya as "Anderson Silva 2.0": High praise for Adesanya's combination of incredible striking talent, charisma, and ability to entertain.
• Mirko Cro Cop's MMA Evolution: The hosts highlight Cro Cop's significant improvement in grappling and overall MMA skill by his second fight with Wanderlei Silva, showcasing his adaptability.
• The Infamous Dos Caras KO: A detailed, almost cinematic, recollection of Mirko Cro Cop's brutal head-kick KO of Dos Caras, including vivid (and possibly exaggerated) details of blood dripping from the mask.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• Joe to Brendan: "I know that I was a dick to you to get you to stop doing it but I felt... there was almost no other way that you were gonna let [stop fighting]. I felt scared."
• Brendan expressing gratitude: "Thank god or whoever's up there man for you and Bryan Callen."
• Joe on fighter deterioration: "There's this... moment where it changes where they stop being that person and they keep fighting and you see it... the deterioration and no one steps in and no one stops them."
• Joe on Jon Jones' controversial loss: "He has one loss it's a fucking loss everybody knows - fucking loss he really should get his record clean."
• Joe on USADA and picograms: "They cleared him with this whole picogram shit they found out that this is we just have this new ability to measure substances in the most miniscule amounts that it's so ridiculous..."
• Brendan on the Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya fight: "What's crazy is is he told me they actually offered the fight to him already."
• Joe describing Israel Adesanya: "He's Anderson Silva 2.0."
• Joe on Jon Jones' striking style: "He utilizes distance better than anybody he's the very best at keeping you here and then bang."

Overall Themes

• The Moral Responsibility in Combat Sports: A deep concern for the long-term well-being of fighters, exemplified by Joe's intervention with Brendan and his broader observations about fighter deterioration.
• The Evolution of Greatness: The discussion continually revisits what makes an all-time great fighter, considering factors like technique, athleticism, mental fortitude, and adaptability, with Jon Jones and Anderson Silva serving as prime examples.
• Identity Beyond the Octagon: The challenges fighters face when transitioning out of their careers, highlighting the mental and emotional toll of finding a new purpose and identity.
• The Spectacle of Modern MMA: The growing importance of personality, social media feuds (e.g., Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya), and storytelling in building star power and fan engagement.