Joe Rogan Experience - Fight Companion - September 2, 2017

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• UFC Fight Companion (Slimmed-Down Version): Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub host without regular companions Eddie Bravo (seminar) and Bryan Callen (golfing).
• UFC Rotterdam Fights: Commentary on Bryan Barberena vs. Leon Edwards, highlighting Barberena's ground game and Edwards' attempts at chokes.
• California Wildfires: Discussion about the massive fires in Los Angeles County near Burbank, including evacuations and a fireman's dire prediction about fires reaching the ocean.
• TV Shows & Pop Culture:

  • Game of Thrones: Joe is on Season 5, Brendan on Season 7, both praising the show.
  • Narcos: Brendan is reluctant to start Season 3 due to loyalty to GoT and his wife's aversion to the violence.
  • Ozark: Brendan is enjoying Season 2.

• Pablo Escobar's Life & Wealth: Discussion about his extreme wealth (rats eating money), unique possessions (hippos), and the impact on his son.
• Mexico Travel Advisory: A lighthearted, controversial joke by Brendan Schaub about being kidnapped in Mexico due to his physique.
• "The Mountain" (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson): Discussion and visual comparison of his transformation from a skinny basketball player to a strongman, attributing it to steroids.
• Jon Jones' Drug Test Controversy: Detailed explanation of the difference between blood and urine tests for Turinabol, and speculation about the "dick pill" defense.
• UFC 217 (Madison Square Garden Card): Preview and analysis of key fights:

  • Georges St-Pierre vs. Michael Bisping
  • TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt
  • Jorge Masvidal vs. Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson
  • Johny Hendricks vs. Paulo Costa

• Fighter Health & Injuries: Discussion of Cody Garbrandt's back injury recovery and Dominick Cruz's recurring foot issues (plantar fasciitis, multiple surgeries).

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• Brendan Schaub refers to the episode as the "Fight Companion Light" due to the absence of Eddie Bravo and Bryan Callen.
• Joe Rogan reveals that the ongoing fire near Burbank is the largest in Los Angeles County history, with a firefighter predicting a future fire that will burn "all the way to the water."
• Brendan hilariously states he can't "cheat" on Game of Thrones by watching Narcos, demonstrating his loyalty to a narrative.
• The discussion about Pablo Escobar's wealth highlights absurdities like "rats eating his money" and owning hippos.
• A meme of "The Mountain"s physical transformation underscores the significant impact of performance-enhancing drugs, moving from a lean basketball player to a massive strongman.
• Clarification on Jon Jones' drug test: The blood test was irrelevant for Turinabol, which is detected in urine, highlighting public misunderstanding.
• Brendan Schaub's analogy of TJ Dillashaw being a "Swiss Army knife" (versatile) and Cody Garbrandt being a "machete" (one powerful tool) effectively describes their fighting styles.
• Brendan shares his personal, debilitating experience with plantar fasciitis during a fight camp, giving insight into Dominick Cruz's struggles.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "It's already the biggest fire in the history of California... of Los Angeles rather." - Joe Rogan on the wildfires.
• "He goes, it's just a matter of time until one day it burns all the way the water." - A fireman's ominous prediction about future fires.
• "I'm crushing hard on Game of Thrones so I don't want to like cheat on and watch Narcos." - Brendan Schaub, expressing TV show loyalty.
• "That's how rich you are when rats are [f***ing] up your funds." - Brendan Schaub, marveling at Pablo Escobar's wealth.
• "If you test positive for a Turinabol you're probably stat they missed the good stuff 'cuz you're stacking out with a bunch of other [s***]." - Chael Sonnen's take on Turinabol, as relayed by Rogan.
• "The blood test does not test for this t-ball stuff... but the urine test does." - Joe Rogan, clarifying the Jon Jones drug test.
• "Cody Garbrandt's like that god damn machete if that thing lands, yeah, game over." - Brendan Schaub on Garbrandt's striking power.
• "Dominick Cruz set the blueprint and then TJ Dillashaw downloaded [it and] brought to next level and Cody Garbrandt even downloaded that." - Joe Rogan on the evolution of fighting styles.

Overall Themes

• The Nuances of Combat Sports: Extensive discussion of fight analysis, fighter health, career trajectories, and controversial topics like PEDs.
• Current Events and Their Impact: A brief but serious interlude on local natural disasters (wildfires) affecting daily life in Los Angeles.
• Pop Culture and Entertainment: The shared passion for popular television series and how they integrate into personal routines and discussions.
• Physicality and Extreme Demands: An examination of the physical toll on elite athletes, from devastating injuries to the pressures of staying clean in a highly competitive environment.
• Banter and Camaraderie: The characteristic humorous and informal conversational style that defines the Joe Rogan Experience fight companion format.