Cody Garbrandt's COVID Battle

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• Cody Garbrandt's Severe COVID-19 Battle: The episode delves deeply into Garbrandt's prolonged and debilitating experience with COVID-19, including its onset, symptoms, and long-term effects.
• Impact of Pre-existing Health Issues: Discussion on how a prior kidney infection and extensive antibiotic treatments severely compromised Garbrandt's immune system, making him highly susceptible to the worst effects of COVID-19.
• Training Through Illness: The dangers and consequences of an elite athlete pushing through severe illness (both kidney infection and COVID-19) in preparation for fights, highlighting the thin line between mental toughness and physical self-harm.
• Post-COVID Complications: Garbrandt shares alarming post-COVID health issues, including blood clots, a torn vein, persistent vertigo, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss.
• Mental Toughness vs. Physical Wisdom: Joe Rogan and Cody reflect on the critical lesson that while toughness is vital for success, there are times when it's wiser to listen to your body and step back.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• Garbrandt reported a **1% recovery score on his Whoop band for a week** before his COVID diagnosis, indicating his body was severely compromised, yet he continued to train.
• His first symptom of COVID was **vertigo during grappling**, which he initially mistook for a concussion.
• He fought against Assunção after a severe kidney infection and just **10 days of IV antibiotic drips** while actively training, never informing the UFC.
• Garbrandt tested positive for COVID-19 in August and continued to test positive for the molecular/PCR tests for **months**, finally testing negative in February.
• After seemingly recovering, he tore a vein in his bicep and developed **three blood clots** in his arm, a direct complication of severe COVID-19, requiring nearly three months on blood thinners.
• Joe Rogan underscored the critical point that even an elite athlete can suffer immensely if they push their body too hard when their immune system is compromised.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "my recovery score is one percent in the morning my hry was like 13 it was one percent for like a week"
• "Vertigo was my first symptom of copen not knowing"
• "my immune system was so weak" (referring to the effects of the kidney infection and antibiotics before contracting COVID)
• "I didn't let any of the ufc or anybody know... i just needed to get in that octagon" (about fighting after a severe kidney infection and IV antibiotics)
• "this is the first test that i've passed since really today my doctor would test that February" (referencing clearing COVID after contracting it in August)
• "I tore my vein in half and it ripped in half... and then I had three blood clots"
• Joe Rogan: "when you are so tough that you push through even though you had covid and you let that [virus] get deep into your system there's a lesson in there for people... it's not wise to push sometimes"

Overall Themes

The episode highlights the **vulnerability of even elite athletes** to severe illness when their immune systems are compromised. It serves as a potent cautionary tale about the **double-edged sword of mental toughness**, demonstrating how an unwavering will to push through pain and adversity, while often a key to success, can also lead to severe, unforeseen health consequences. The discussion underscores the **unpredictable and debilitating nature of COVID-19**, revealing how it can lead to long-term complications like blood clots and neurological issues, even in highly fit individuals. Ultimately, the conversation advocates for a balanced approach between relentless drive and the **wisdom of listening to one's body** to ensure holistic health and long-term well-being in high-performance environments.