18-Feb-20
JRE MMA Show #92 with Angela Hill – Podcast Topics
Joe Rogan welcomes UFC strawweight fighter Angela Hill to the show for a conversation touching on a wide range of topics, including her unique perspective on fighting, the struggles of finding training partners at a low weight class, her journey to the UFC, and her mental approach to the sport.
This episode explores the unique challenges of women’s MMA, the mental fortitude required to succeed in the sport, and the importance of finding the right training environment and mental approach.
- Angela Hill’s Afro as a Weapon:
- Angela Hill reveals her afro is a surprisingly effective escape tool in grappling situations.
- She details her experience getting out of multiple guillotines due to her afro.
- She jokes about the possibility of a “nip slip” technique, using her afro to her advantage in a fight.
- This topic highlights the unexpected and often overlooked advantages fighters can gain through clever strategy and physical attributes.
- The Unique Challenges of Women’s MMA:
- Angela Hill talks about the unique challenges women face in finding adequate training partners.
- She explains that the lack of women at her weight class forces her to train with larger male fighters, which can lead to injuries.
- She describes the different dynamics of training with men and women, noting the inherent strength difference but arguing that women can be just as tough, if not tougher.
- This topic highlights the specific challenges of women’s MMA and the importance of adapting training methods to overcome gender-based disparities.
- The Mental Game of Fighting:
- Angela Hill opens up about her struggles with anxiety and the mental fog she experienced in a fight against Miranda Barber.
- She admits to overthinking and hesitating during the fight, hindering her performance.
- She emphasizes the importance of being present and focusing on the moment, as opposed to worrying about the past or future.
- This topic highlights the crucial role of mental toughness and the need for athletes to develop coping mechanisms for pressure and anxiety.
- The Importance of Finding the Right Training Environment:
- Angela Hill describes her journey from a smaller gym in New York to training at Alliance MMA in San Diego.
- She highlights the importance of having access to a strong training environment with adequate training partners and coaching.
- She emphasizes the value of a supportive and positive training environment, free from manipulative contracts or unnecessary pressure.
- This topic emphasizes the crucial role of finding the right training environment for a fighter’s development and success.
- Angela Hill’s Journey to the UFC:
- Angela Hill recounts her late start in Muay Thai, discovering a passion for fighting at 24.
- She details her rapid rise through the amateur ranks, becoming a professional Muay Thai fighter and eventually transitioning to MMA.
- She shares her experience on the Ultimate Fighter, where she competed despite having only one professional MMA fight.
- This topic highlights the inspirational story of an unlikely athlete who overcame late beginnings and adversity to reach the top of her sport.
- The Importance of Finding the Right Weight Class:
- Angela Hill discusses the challenges of cutting weight in MMA, noting the difficulty women face in maintaining muscle mass and avoiding excessive weight loss.
- She shares her personal experience cutting weight for Muay Thai fights, where she lost considerable muscle mass.
- She emphasizes the importance of finding a weight class that is both manageable and healthy, allowing for optimal performance and athleticism.
- This topic highlights the complex issues surrounding weight cutting in combat sports and the need for fighters to prioritize their health and well-being.
- The Controversial Topic of Judging in MMA:
- Angela Hill expresses frustration with inconsistent judging in MMA, where subjective criteria can lead to questionable decisions.
- She points out that judges often fail to accurately assess the impact of punches and the overall momentum of a fight.
- She suggests implementing open scoring and increasing the number of judges to enhance transparency and accuracy.
- This topic highlights a long-standing controversy in MMA, where the lack of clarity in judging can overshadow the fighters’ efforts and create contentious outcomes.
- The Rise of Other MMA Organizations:
- Angela Hill acknowledges the increasing competition from organizations like ONE Championship and Bellator.
- She discusses the growing talent pool in these organizations and the possibility of unification fights between champions from different promotions.
- She points out the increasing financial incentives offered by these organizations, attracting top fighters away from the UFC.
- This topic highlights the shifting landscape of MMA and the potential for a more diverse and competitive landscape in the future.
- The Ethics of Animal Sanctuaries:
- Angela Hill shares her experience visiting an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, expressing concern about the ethical implications of interacting with animals in captivity.
- She questions the legitimacy of sanctuaries that allow tourists to ride elephants, highlighting the potential for animal abuse.
- She also recounts her experience at a wolf sanctuary, expressing disappointment with the confined conditions and the lack of natural freedom for the animals.
- This topic raises important ethical considerations surrounding animal welfare and the role of sanctuaries in ensuring ethical treatment of animals.
- The Unique Power of Certain Fighters:
- Angela Hill discusses the phenomenon of fighters with exceptional knockout power, citing examples like Deontay Wilder and Alex Pereira.
- She argues that these fighters possess a unique ability to deliver devastating blows that seem to defy conventional strength and technique.
- She expresses her own hope of developing a similar knockout power, emphasizing the importance of hard work and dedication.
- This topic explores the mystique of knockout power in combat sports, acknowledging the elusive quality that separates certain fighters from the rest.
- The Importance of Versatility in MMA:
- Angela Hill praises the exceptional versatility of fighters like Demetrious Johnson, acknowledging his ability to excel in all aspects of MMA.
- She contrasts Johnson’s well-rounded skillset with fighters who specialize in a single area, highlighting the advantages of a diverse range of skills.
- She suggests that fighters like Johnson pose the greatest challenge due to their ability to adapt and counter any opponent’s strategy.
- This topic highlights the importance of a well-rounded skillset in MMA, where fighters who excel in multiple areas hold a distinct advantage.
5 Memorable Quotes:
- “It’s interesting with women fighting like there’s options and one of the options is clothes. Like the way you wear your upper to your like your top. Yeah, you have a big impact if you’re a grappler.” – Angela Hill talks about the strategic use of clothing in women’s MMA.
- “I think my title fight in Invicta, the girl locked on maybe three or four guillotings, and every time I was just like, it just popped out if people kept going. It’s deep, it’s deep, but I swear swear to god my afro gets me out of tight situations.” – Angela Hill highlights the unexpected benefits of her afro in grappling.
- “I always wonder like I get that seems like it would be harder to pull out of things. Don’t you think no it’s actually it’s kind of like a you know those connecting joints where it’s like it’s kind of like a Big ball that goes in but like when you pull it out. It’s like a like goes in, but like when you pull it out, it’s like, it pulls out easier. It pulls out easier, yeah, it’s kind of like a joint like that. So like you think you have a good grip, but then the hair is just like, you know, like a consensus.” – Angela Hill explains how her afro works as an escape tool.
- “It’s such a fucking crazy way to make a living period. You know, it’s like you’re deciding you’re gonna throw your bones at someone and try to break their arms and try to rip their legs apart. And then you’re gonna practice that all the time. And then you’re gonna hope you don’t get hurt and practice to the point where you can’t actually just go do it inside the octagon.” – Angela Hill reflects on the dangerous nature of MMA training.
- “I’ve always had this joke with like my teammates that I was gonna get famous by being like the nip slipper. Like, I would use like certain like moi-tai clench techniques to just like pop the girls move out. So I’d always get to fight the popular girls because like they knew oh she’s fighting Page of Trans and we’re gonna see some Page of Trans and to easy enough. And I was just like you know raise my stock.” – Angela Hill jokes about her potential to be the “nip slipper” in the MMA world.