Marlon "Chito" Vera on His "Awkward" Tattoo, Getting Tattooed by Mister Cartoon

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• The Experience of Getting Tattoos: A detailed discussion on the pain levels associated with different body parts (back, arms, legs, neck, elbows) and various personal anecdotes from Marlon "Chito" Vera's extensive tattoo journey.
• Legendary Tattoo Artists: Chito Vera's experience getting tattooed by the renowned Mister Cartoon, including insights into his studio and methods, as well as mentions of other artists like Mark Nava and Sean Topper.
• Impact of Substances on Pain: Exploration of how smoking weed makes tattoo pain more intense due to increased sensitivity, while drinking alcohol can help dull the sensation.
• "Awkward" Tattoo Moments: A memorable story about an uncomfortable situation during an inner thigh tattoo.
• Career and Tattoos: A lighthearted anecdote about UFC's Sean Shelby's initial reaction to Chito's neck tattoo.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• Chito Vera vividly described the immense pain of back tattoos, noting "my arm were shaking really without me moving it." He contrasted this with arms being "pretty easy."
• The inner thigh of his full leg dragon tattoo, done by Mark Nava, was particularly "awful" and led to an "awkward" moment where the artist had to physically move his testicles aside.
• His neck/throat tattoo was deemed the most painful, especially when having to swallow, causing his head to feel like it was falling off the table.
• Getting tattooed by the legendary Mister Cartoon was a highlight, with Chito noting the artist's Santa Monica studio's unique ambiance and smoking a strong joint with him, which unexpectedly heightened the pain.
• UFC's Sean Shelby jokingly called Chito an "idiot" for getting his first tattoo (presumably the neck), suggesting he wouldn't get a job, to which Chito famously retorted, "I don't need a job, you give me a job."

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "on my back you're crying there was not crying but about to there were points that my arm were shaking really without me moving it" - Chito describing the intense pain of his back tattoo.
• "when this guy was to do my inner tie he was pushing my balls aside so he can ink right... This is painful, this is awkward." - Recounting the highly uncomfortable inner thigh tattoo experience.
• "what's worse the guy pushing my dick away or the pain right there because it was so painful that I was like wow I'm hurting." - Chito's internal debate during the awkward tattoo.
• "when he started tattooing me I was just like I was way too high ah I was way too sensitive when you're high right do you feel it more oh I was that's why I was freaking out." - Realization that smoking weed before a tattoo made the pain significantly worse.
• "when he saw my first tattoo you f***ing idiot sean shelby said that yeah he's like you won't be able to get a job I'm like I don't need a job you give me a job." - Chito's humorous recollection of Sean Shelby's initial reaction to his neck tattoo.

Overall Themes

The episode predominantly explores the themes of endurance and artistic passion, particularly within the subculture of extensive tattooing. Chito Vera's narrative highlights the significant physical pain and mental fortitude required for large-scale body art, emphasizing the dedication to obtaining work from revered artists like Mister Cartoon. It also touches on the unique personal experiences and occasional discomforts (both physical and social) that come with such a commitment, all while injecting humor and a fighter's perspective on enduring pain. The discussion subtly underscores tattoos as a form of powerful self-expression and identity, especially relevant to Chito's career as a professional athlete.