10-Feb-23
JRE MMA Show #136 with Jamahal Hill – Topic Breakdown
This episode features Joe Rogan interviewing Jamahal Hill, the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. They discuss Hill’s victory over Glover Teixeira, the unique personality of the former champion, and Hill’s plans for the future. The conversation explores themes of hard work, dedication, overcoming adversity, and the mental fortitude required to achieve greatness in the world of MMA.
- Jamahal Hill’s Title Win over Glover Teixeira:
- Hill’s short preparation time for the fight, which was only 6 weeks.
- The impact of the fight changing from 3 rounds to 5 rounds unexpectedly.
- The significance of Hill’s victory in silencing doubters who questioned his grappling skills and overall fighting ability.
- Hill’s determination to take on the next challenge and his hunger for big names.
- The Enigma of Glover Teixeira:
- Teixeira’s long and successful career, spanning over 2 decades.
- Teixeira’s decision to relinquish his title despite being injured, a move that raised eyebrows for its lack of business sense and focus on “being noble.”
- Teixeira’s unique personality and training methods, including his “samurai” persona and unconventional training in the woods.
- The severity of Teixeira’s shoulder injury, which the UFC doctors described as the worst they’d ever seen.
- Hill’s Fight Strategy and Skill:
- Hill’s ability to pick apart Teixeira’s offense and defend takedowns effectively.
- Hill’s use of faints and setups, luring Teixeira into striking exchanges.
- Hill’s mental awareness and ability to adapt his strategy throughout the fight.
- Hill’s understanding of fighting angles and physics, giving him an edge in striking exchanges.
- The Need for Glove Change:
- Hill’s belief that UFC gloves encourage fighters to keep their hands open, leading to more eye pokes.
- The effectiveness of Trevor Whitman’s custom-made gloves that keep the hand curved, minimizing the risk of eye pokes.
- Hill’s concern for fighter safety and his frustration with the lack of progress in addressing eye pokes in the sport.
- Hill’s suggestion that UFC should consider adopting Whitman’s gloves, which are designed for a more natural hand position.
- Hill’s Inspiration and Journey:
- Hill’s early exposure to MMA through Anderson Silva’s dominance in the sport, which ignited his passion for the fighting world.
- Hill’s dedication to learning and improving his skills, constantly adding to his bag of tricks.
- Hill’s desire to inspire others and create a legacy as a champion.
- Hill’s belief in his own ability to achieve greatness and his unwavering commitment to excellence.
- The Importance of Respect in MMA:
- Hill’s lesson from his fight against Paul Craig, where he learned the importance of respecting the opponent and the game.
- Hill’s realization that no fighter is invincible and that the sport requires constant learning and adaptation.
- Hill’s emphasis on treating every opponent as the best in the world, even when facing a grappler like Paul Craig.
- Hill’s understanding that a lack of respect can lead to mistakes and unexpected losses.
- The Power of the Calf Kick:
- The recent rise of the calf kick as a dominant weapon in MMA.
- Hill’s awareness of the calf kick’s effectiveness and his plan to incorporate it more into his own arsenal.
- Hill’s observation of fighters like Islam Makhachev and other top contenders who are starting to implement the calf kick more frequently.
- Hill’s prediction that the calf kick will become an increasingly prevalent technique in MMA.
- Controversial MMA Rules:
- Hill’s strong opinion against standups in MMA, arguing that they disrupt the flow of the fight and undermine the sport’s core principles.
- Hill’s belief that standups encourage fighters to rely on guard positions rather than working to get up on their own.
- Hill’s suggestion that standups be eliminated from MMA, challenging the subjective nature of referee decisions and emphasizing the importance of fighters’ own efforts to escape bad positions.
- Hill’s perspective on the importance of scrambles and the unpredictability that makes MMA so engaging.
- The Mental Fortitude of Fighters:
- Hill’s admiration for fighters like Kamaru Usman, who compete at the highest level despite enduring significant pain and injuries.
- Hill’s recognition of the mental toughness required to overcome adversity and maintain focus under pressure.
- Hill’s belief that a strong mind can overcome physical limitations, as evidenced by Usman’s incredible success.
- Hill’s perspective on the importance of mental strength in the sport, where fighters often push their bodies to the limit.
- The Future of MMA:
- Hill’s excitement for the upcoming fight between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski, which he predicts will be a close and exciting match.
- Hill’s belief that Makhachev might underestimate Volkanovski’s skill and power, setting the stage for a potential upset.
- Hill’s recognition of the growing popularity and competitiveness of MMA outside the UFC, with organizations like Bellator and PFL attracting top-level fighters.
- Hill’s hope that the emergence of other organizations will ultimately benefit fighters by creating more opportunities and financial leverage.
- The Importance of Nutrition and Training:
- Hill’s experience with Ian Larios, a nutritionist and chef who transformed his diet and training regimen.
- Hill’s realization that he wasn’t eating enough calories to fuel his training, leading to feelings of weakness.
- Hill’s praise for Larios’s approach to nutrition, emphasizing the importance of fresh, organic food and proper portioning.
- Hill’s commitment to using Larios for all future camps, recognizing the significant impact his expertise had on his performance.
- Hill’s Future Plans:
- Hill’s ambition to pursue a career in entertainment after retirement from MMA.
- Hill’s passion for writing movies and creating stories, inspired by his childhood imagination.
- Hill’s recognition of the importance of personality and entertainment value in MMA and his confidence in his own marketability.
- Hill’s potential to become a podcast host, leveraging his experience, insights, and entertaining personality to engage MMA fans.
- The Impact of Performance Enhancing Drugs:
- Hill’s perspective on the negative impact of USADA’s crackdown on performance-enhancing drugs, specifically highlighting the case of Alistair Overeem.
- Hill’s belief that Overeem was a significantly more dangerous fighter when he was using performance-enhancing drugs, citing his dominant victory over Brock Lesnar as evidence.
- Hill’s admiration for Overeem’s skill and athleticism, recognizing the difference in his performances before and after the implementation of USADA.
- Hill’s view on the ethical implications of performance-enhancing drugs and their potential to distort the true competition within MMA.
- The Rise of Francis Ngannou:
- Hill’s belief that Francis Ngannou might be the most powerful heavyweight of all time, highlighting his devastating knockout power and athleticism.
- Hill’s analysis of Ngannou’s unique fighting style, including his ability to adjust to different situations and his relentless pressure on opponents.
- Hill’s perspective on Ngannou’s potential in boxing and his anticipation of a potential clash with either Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury.
- Hill’s assessment of the risks and rewards of Ngannou’s move to boxing, recognizing the potential for big paydays but also the possibility of exposure and setbacks.
- The Importance of Mental Toughness in Cold Climates:
- Hill’s belief that growing up in a cold climate like Michigan has instilled in him a strong sense of resilience and determination.
- Hill’s perspective on the unique challenges of living and training in harsh weather conditions, which can test one’s physical and mental limits.
- Hill’s comparison of cold weather athletes to those from warmer climates, highlighting their greater ability to endure hardship and push through pain.
- Hill’s lighthearted reflection on the absurdity of people from warmer climates struggling with even mild cold weather.
5 Memorable Quotes:
- “People are gonna question you until they can’t anymore. That’s how it goes.” – Jamahal Hill, acknowledging the inevitable skepticism that faces any rising fighter.
- “You gotta take care of your money. You gotta take care of your money.” – Jamahal Hill, emphasizing the importance of financial responsibility, even when faced with the temptation of “being noble.”
- “I understand fighting. You know? Whenever I was sitting, learning and being taught things, I not only wanted to know how to do it. I wanted to know why, how to like, you know what I mean? The the the physics behind it.” – Jamahal Hill, showcasing his deep understanding of fighting principles and mechanics.
- “I don’t feel like anybody else can really do what I do.” – Jamahal Hill, expressing his unwavering confidence in his unique fighting style and his belief in his own exceptional abilities.
- “I’m not ducking nobody, bro. I’m here for all the smoke. I wanna fight everybody.” – Jamahal Hill, demonstrating his fearless attitude and willingness to take on any challenge in the pursuit of greatness.