Khabib retired undefeated
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA with an undefeated record, dominant through elite wrestling that neutralized world-class fighters.
Where this was said
MMA's Broken Nose Problem: Merab, Khabib, and the Case Against Standup Rules
At 1:02:20 · chapter starts 49:10
The show takes a tactical turn as Joe and Tony watch Khabib Nurmagomedov highlight footage, dissecting the specific details that made him impossible to escape — triangled legs, collar-tie uppercuts, weight distribution. Joe makes his clearest argument: referees should never stand fighters up, comparing passive ground control to Muhammad Ali's rope-a-dope. Strategy is strategy. He goes one step further and proposes that each round should begin in the position where the last round ended, forcing fighters to actually earn the stand-up position. [1] — Joe Rogan "Wrestling doesn't just score points — it psychologically destroys opponents. When you're pinned on the mat under a superior wrestler, stari…" 58:00 The Merab discussion (his catastrophically deviated septum, visible via X-ray, hasn't been fixed because surgery requires a year off) underscores how badly elite wrestlers earn their advantages. The conclusion: if you want your kid to be a great fighter, teach them to wrestle first.
Why Wrestling Is the Most Important Skill in MMA
Wrestling doesn't just score points — it psychologically destroys opponents. When you're pinned on the mat under a superior wrestler, staring at the logos on the canvas while a world champion rains punches on your face, there is nowhere to go and nothing to do.
MMA Has a Stand-Up Problem: Joe Rogan Says Never Stand Anyone Up
Referees standing fighters up when one is controlling from top position is the single most backwards rule in MMA. If a guy earned top position, let him stay there. Muhammad Ali didn't get told to start punching during rope-a-dope.
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Athletes improve with mental rehearsal
Research shows athletes who mentally imagine practicing basketball or soccer have better performance than those who do not include imagination in their training.
~10 rounds dominated vs Usyk
Rico Verhoeven dominated approximately 10 of 12 rounds against undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk before a controversial post-bell stoppage.
Stopped after the bell
Rico's appeal confirmed the fight was stopped after the bell rang, and the ringside doctor found no concussion or disorientation — yet the result was never overturned.
Glory uses 5 judges vs boxing's 3
Glory Kickboxing uses 5 judges rather than boxing's 3, which Joe Rogan argues reduces the chance of a corrupt or incompetent minority swinging the result.
1 professional boxing match before Usyk
Rico Verhoeven had only one professional boxing match before fighting undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC title.
15 years of boxing training
Despite having just one pro boxing match, Rico Verhoeven had been training boxing for 15 years alongside his kickboxing career.
6-month boxing transition camp
Rico used a full 6 months to transition from kickboxing stance to a proper boxing stance under trainer Peter Fury, calling it essential rewiring.
75+ kickboxing fights in career
Rico Verhoeven has had approximately 75 professional kickboxing fights, giving him a massive combat sports experience advantage over pure boxers.
