JRE #788 – Brendan Schaub

by

4/21/2016






Joe Rogan Experience #788 – Brendan Schaub Topics

This podcast features Brendan Schaub, a mixed martial artist, former college and pro football player, and co-host of “The Fighter & The Kid” podcast. The conversation delves into Schaub’s recent keto diet journey, the upcoming UFC 197 event, the retirement and return of Conor McGregor, and the potential of Georges St-Pierre’s comeback. Underlying themes explore the complexities of athletic performance, the pressures of fame, and the evolving landscape of MMA.

Here are the major topics discussed in this episode:

Schaub’s Keto Diet

  1. Embracing the Keto Lifestyle: Schaub shares his decision to adopt a strict ketogenic diet, driven by a desire for improved mental clarity, sustained energy, and a break from sugar cravings.
  2. Initial Transition and Adaptability: Schaub reveals that the transition to keto was surprisingly smooth, with no initial cravings or difficulties, potentially indicating his body’s quick adaptability to the diet.
  3. Ketosis and Blood Ketone Monitoring: The discussion explores the importance of tracking blood ketone levels to ensure optimal ketosis, highlighting the challenges and inconveniences of using blood ketone meters.
  4. The Impact of Cheating: Schaub details his negative experience with indulging in non-keto foods, emphasizing the immediate and severe consequences on his energy levels and overall well-being.

UFC 197 and the Pound-for-Pound Debate

  1. John Jones vs. Demetrious Johnson: Rogan and Schaub engage in a lively discussion about the top two pound-for-pound fighters, debating whether Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson’s dominance in a smaller weight class outweighs John Jones’s technical prowess and higher risk factor.
  2. John Jones’s Talent and Controversies: Schaub acknowledges Jones’s incredible talent but argues that his inconsistent training and off-field issues diminish his overall impact on the sport.
  3. Demetrious Johnson’s Skill and Lack of Nemesis: Schaub highlights Johnson’s exceptional technical skills and his need for a compelling nemesis to elevate his mainstream appeal.
  4. The Challenge of Smaller Weight Classes: The discussion touches on the challenges faced by fighters in smaller weight classes, particularly in terms of mainstream recognition and financial gains.

The Conor McGregor Saga

  1. McGregor’s Retirement Announcement and Subsequent Developments: Rogan and Schaub discuss McGregor’s sudden retirement announcement and the subsequent rumors and speculation surrounding his decision.
  2. The Impact of McGregor’s Departure: Schaub emphasizes the potential financial implications of McGregor’s absence from UFC 200, acknowledging his status as the organization’s biggest draw.
  3. McGregor’s Charisma and Marketing Prowess: The conversation highlights McGregor’s exceptional charisma and marketing abilities, noting how his tweets and social media presence can generate more hype than traditional press conferences.
  4. The Need for Balance: The discussion raises concerns about the potential for superstar fighters to dictate their own press schedules, arguing that a balance must be struck between promoting the sport and protecting athletes’ performance.

Georges St-Pierre’s Potential Return

  1. The Allure of a GSP vs. Conor McGregor Fight: Rogan and Schaub express excitement about the potential for a fight between St-Pierre and McGregor, acknowledging the immense financial and fan interest in such a matchup.
  2. The Reebok Sponsorship Obstacle: Schaub reveals the possibility that a Reebok sponsorship conflict may be hindering St-Pierre’s return to the UFC.
  3. GSP’s Legacy and Fighting Style: The conversation revisits St-Pierre’s dominant career, highlighting his diverse skillset and his ability to adjust his fighting style depending on the opponent.
  4. The Unpredictability of a Comeback: Rogan and Schaub contemplate whether St-Pierre would return with the same aggression and intensity he displayed in his prime or adopt a more cautious approach.

The Diaz Brothers and Their Impact on MMA

  1. Nate Diaz’s Rise to Fame: Rogan and Schaub acknowledge Diaz’s immense popularity and his ability to garner significant attention even without a Conor McGregor fight.
  2. The Diaz Brothers’ Influence on MMA: Schaub praises the Diaz brothers for their early defiance of traditional promotional practices and their emphasis on extreme cardio and conditioning.
  3. The Potential of a GSP vs. Nate Diaz Fight: The discussion explores the potential for a GSP vs. Nate Diaz matchup, speculating that it could be a huge draw, especially with the right marketing push.
  4. The Need for Strong Opponents for Diaz: Schaub argues that Diaz’s success hinges on finding strong opponents who can deliver exciting fights and elevate his profile.

The Evolving Landscape of MMA

  1. The Rise of Glory Kickboxing and ESPN’s Involvement: Rogan and Schaub discuss the growing popularity of Glory kickboxing and the strategic move by ESPN to capitalize on this trend.
  2. The Importance of Storytelling: The conversation underscores the importance of telling compelling stories about fighters to draw in casual fans and build a larger audience for the sport.
  3. The UFC’s Dominance and the Need for Competition: Rogan acknowledges the UFC’s current dominance but believes that healthy competition from other promotions could benefit the sport as a whole.
  4. The Role of HBO in Boxing: Rogan praises HBO’s approach to boxing, highlighting its commitment to storytelling and creating exciting narratives around fighters.

The Dark Side of Professional Wrestling

  1. The Death of Chyna and the Issue of Substance Abuse in Wrestling: Rogan and Schaub discuss the recent death of Chyna, highlighting the potential dangers of substance abuse in professional wrestling.
  2. The Need for Regulation and Support: Schaub advocates for increased regulation and support for professional wrestlers, particularly in terms of substance abuse and concussion protocols.
  3. The Film “Concussion” and its Impact: Rogan describes his unsettling experience watching the movie “Concussion,” which explores the long-term consequences of head trauma in football.
  4. The Risk-Reward Equation: The discussion raises questions about the risks associated with professional wrestling, particularly considering the impact of concussions and the potential for long-term health problems.

The State of the Heavyweight Division

  1. The Age of the Heavyweights: Rogan and Schaub acknowledge the prevalence of older fighters in the heavyweight division, noting the potential for a resurgence of veterans like Fedor Emelianenko.
  2. The Impact of Drug Testing: The conversation explores the impact of stricter drug testing policies on the heavyweight division, suggesting a shift in the competitive landscape.
  3. Fedor’s Potential Comeback: Rogan and Schaub speculate about Fedor’s potential return to the UFC, considering his legacy and the excitement it would generate among fans.
  4. The Lack of Young Talent: The discussion highlights the lack of young, emerging talent in the heavyweight division, suggesting a potential for stagnation.

The Light Heavyweight Division: A Tale of Two Eras

  1. The Dominance of John Jones and Daniel Cormier: Rogan and Schaub acknowledge the formidable presence of John Jones and Daniel Cormier, who have created a bottleneck at the top of the division.
  2. The Decline of Alexander Gustafsson: Schaub expresses concern over Gustafsson’s recent comments about losing passion for the sport, suggesting a potential retirement.
  3. The Lack of Depth: Rogan and Schaub note the lack of depth in the division beyond the top five, raising questions about the future of light heavyweight.
  4. The Importance of Compelling Matchups: The conversation emphasizes the need for exciting matchups and rivalries to maintain interest and drive fan engagement.

The Unreliable Nature of MMA Rankings

  1. The Subjectivity of Rankings: Rogan and Schaub critique the subjectivity of MMA rankings, particularly when they fail to accurately reflect recent fight outcomes.
  2. The Role of Popularity and National Bias: The discussion touches on the potential influence of popularity and national bias on rankings, suggesting that they may not always reflect objective performance.
  3. The Importance of Fact-Based Comparisons: Rogan and Schaub emphasize the importance of basing rankings on factual fight outcomes and not on subjective assessments of a fighter’s ability.
  4. The Need for Transparency and Consistency: The conversation advocates for a more transparent and consistent ranking system, ensuring that fighters are accurately positioned based on their performance.

The Future of Women’s MMA

  1. The Potential of a 145-Pound Division: Rogan and Schaub discuss the possibility of creating a 145-pound division for women, acknowledging Cyborg’s dominance and the need to provide her with a more suitable weight class.
  2. The Importance of Super Fights: Rogan and Schaub highlight the need for super fights to generate buzz and interest in the women’s division, suggesting that Cyborg should face Holly Holm to establish her dominance at 145 pounds.
  3. The Need for Strong Opponents: Schaub stresses the importance of providing Cyborg with strong opponents who can challenge her and create exciting fights for fans.
  4. The Potential for Muay Thai Influence: The conversation explores the potential for incorporating higher-level Muay Thai skills into women’s MMA, suggesting that a fighter with exceptional striking skills could challenge Cyborg.

Memorable Quotes

  1. “I’m just gonna keep doing it. Dude, you’re gonna feel this is the crazy thing. You’re you’re gonna feel this way, and this is how you feel now. Like, you know, this thing in the middle of the day where you get tired, that’s gonna go away.” – Brendan Schaub shares the positive effects of his keto diet.
  2. “But I think what John Jones does and his risk of losing is so much higher than mighty mouse is, and he’s destroying dudes and not training. And high as fuck.” – Joe Rogan discusses the risk and reward of John Jones’s fighting style.
  3. “The biggest tweet by an athlete this year. Yeah. Beat Kobe Bryant’s retirement tweet. And you want me to go do a fucking interview for ESPN? Well, they don’t know the sport.” – Schaub highlights McGregor’s massive social media reach and his frustration with traditional media outlets.
  4. “It’s not the WWE, man. Go go ask go ask a major superstar, LeBron. And I know you you it’s not the same, but LeBron, any of these guys, these superstars and sports Renaldo, go on these world tours, not get paid, sell the fight when I’m like, wait. But my social media will cover way more than this. Go fuck yourself.” – McGregor’s frustration with the demands of promotional tours is echoed in this statement.
  5. “It’s one of those things you don’t wanna hope. He wanted to just wait. But, also, I don’t know how you can save the card. Well, he would he would most certainly save the card. Oh my god. You know, it’s would be crazy. Would be him and and Connor. I mean, that’s fucking nuts.” – The conversation centers around the potential for GSP’s return, with the possibility of a GSP vs. McGregor fight being a game changer.