Joe Rogan Experience - Fight Companion - January 15, 2017

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• Fight Companion Format: The episode immediately establishes itself as a "fight companion," where the hosts watch fights, discuss them, but often diverge into various other topics.
• Conor McGregor's Career & Branding: Discussion around his commercial ventures, wise decision-making regarding movie roles, and the immense potential of a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather.
• Extreme Hunting & Wildlife: A segment on musk ox hunting in freezing conditions, the aggressive nature of polar bears, and the surprising commonality of polar bears in certain regions of Canada.
• UFC Fights & Grappling Innovations:

  • Analysis of the John Moraga vs. Sergio Pettis fight.
  • Detailed breakdown of a historic Ezekiel choke from the bottom (by Oleksiy Oliynyk) in the UFC.
  • Discussion of Ben Saunders' unique Omoplata submission in the UFC.
  • An in-depth look at Mackenzie Dern's "submission of the year" (an omoplata to a choke from the back).
  • The evolution of leg locks in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, crediting figures like Dean Lister and John Danaher.

• Language Translation Technology: Exploration of real-time translation apps and future in-ear devices that could revolutionize communication and travel.
• Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor Boxing Match Speculation: Intense discussion about the financial incentives, Dana White's offer, and the potential for this fight to become the highest-grossing pay-per-view event ever.
• UFC Flyweight Division Challenges: Mention of the difficulty in promoting the flyweight division despite Demetrious Johnson's dominance, and the physical toll of making weight.
• Jiu-Jitsu Personalities & Philosophy: High praise for John Danaher's intellectual approach to Jiu-Jitsu, his eccentricities, and the success of his students (e.g., Gary Tonon).

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• The opening humorous admission that a "fight companion" involves watching fights but "most of the time no" (just talking about other things).
• Praise for Conor McGregor's business savvy for turning down movie offers to focus on his fighting career.
• The extreme conditions of hunting musk oxen, with Joe's dentist nearly dying from the cold.
• The amazement over the first-ever Ezekiel choke from the bottom and the first Omoplata in UFC history, highlighting the rarity and ingenuity of these submissions.
• A captivated breakdown of Mackenzie Dern's "high-level" and "nasty" submission sequence, showcasing elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
• The revelation about John Danaher's unique personality, including wearing rash guards to bars and his insightful yet unconventional "rules" for life and relationships.
• Excitement over the advancement of real-time language translation technology, with Joe calling an app a "tour guide killer" and discussing future in-ear devices.
• Speculation that a Mayweather-McGregor fight could transcend traditional sports audiences and break all pay-per-view records.
• Joe's critical assessment of Vin Diesel movies: "They should show it to prisoners... they'll give up Isis."
• The recurring "Cheers gentlemen" toast that marks the informal and convivial nature of the companion.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "we're drinking because Eddie bra's not here let's be honest."
• On Conor McGregor: "He's not doing movies that's good expend 19 then we got a problem... He's a very wise man."
• Regarding a Vin Diesel movie: "They should play it over and over again those people in Guantanamo Bay they'll give up Isis they'll give up everybody."
• "polar bears are a lot more common in Canada than they would have you believe."
• "there's only one ever Ezekiel choke that's it and it's from while the guy was mounting him which is crazy."
• "that might be the most embarrassing loss if you heavyweight on top" (referring to the Ezekiel choke).
• "Mackenzie D submission a lot of people are saying it's like submission of the year she's a real elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and she's uh Megaton Diaz's daughter and she's a DI piece."
• Jamie's humorous take on communicating with Mackenzie Dern: "I'm going slide in them DMS with Portuguese just broken Portuguese."
• On the potential Mayweather-McGregor PPV: "this might be like 3 million this might be like 3 million cuz it might be like such a freak Show."
• Praising a Jiu-Jitsu legend: "John Doner who's essentially one of the smartest guys in Jiu-Jitsu... he's a fucking genius guy."

Overall Themes

• The Evolving Landscape of Combat Sports: From fighter branding and financial negotiations to the technical innovations in grappling, the podcast constantly explores the dynamic nature of MMA and martial arts.
• Human Endeavor & Extremes: Whether discussing extreme hunting in harsh climates or the relentless pursuit of perfection in Jiu-Jitsu, there's a recurring theme of pushing physical and mental boundaries.
• Technological Disruption: The conversation about real-time translation apps highlights how technology is rapidly changing communication and potentially making traditional skills obsolete.
• Humor and Camaraderie: Despite the serious topics of fighting and survival, the episode maintains a lighthearted tone, characteristic of a "fight companion" where friends gather to chat and joke.
• Beyond the Surface: The hosts frequently delve deeper than surface-level observations, debunking myths (e.g., polar bear populations) and offering nuanced analysis of fighter strategies and grappling techniques.