Joe Rogan Experience #10123 — BJ Penn Transcript

Transcript

0:00 Ladies and gentlemen, the future governor of Hawaii, BJ Penn! I need one. It was the COVID lockdowns, right, that made you decide? since I was in high school, we've always been in last place, something 13 plus percent there's even talk there about raising it up. You know, it's it's it's a shame that you feel that everything is that bad, that you like you feel called to do it.

2:22 So what would you do different in terms of like, what are they doing? Like what do you think it is? That was fantastic. We had Tank Cabot. You do two? They didn't sell. How come it's only the UFC? We're here to regulate you guys. Well, what's Ronald Reagan's best line? Right? You couldn't even have that in the back. Remember how big Egan was fighting?

5:42 Like SAFTA. We know about, me and you, we know about, right? I'm like a little kid, Yes, uh, I could have been through that yeah yeah just the mental warfare the mental went you know i was just living my life some more ups and downs i like i say you know sometimes i And for jiu-jitsu guys, like for all my jiu-jitsu guys, you you were the fucking man because you were a smaller guy who choked out matt hughes you know who was so fucking good at

8:56 I always tell people you have to judge a fighter by the heights they reached, worst performances you know for you that your best performances were spectacular you had some how did i run into them i forget how exactly but i think my brother introduced me to them These guys were just ahead of everybody. They looked like they were torturing you. That's the only question.

11:48 How long can you maintain that ferocity? What can I do to make the referee stop this? The Dean Thomas fight, there was a lot of fights that man and so when did you did you continue that kind of strength and conditioning routine All you need to do is just get in ridiculous condition. Just different things. Do you train? of fighting that ain't a fight it's going home and thinking about it all night long anybody can

15:10 For the first fight that Connor fought for the title when he knocked him out quick Dude, Aldo in his prime was a fucking wizard. Proud of that guy. What is it? that you can bring into this governor thing, to this work, build your martial arts game. And it's a team. Yeah. You can't do it by yourself. It's impossible. But you have to have someone teaching you.

18:22 They were like, oh, that's a big advantage because you have crazy flexible legs You know, I never knew I was flexible. you you would do a lot of wild uh band stretches too right you did stretches with like i'd always Yeah, yeah. People don't understand how hard that is to do. I would always tell people. Because I've been in would always, like, tell people, like, why?

20:18 and you're up by two points, and are you going to do something? But everybody's like, how'd you get so good at wrestling? But it might be training footage. It was very unusual. So it was just mostly just martial arts training? He was. That guy was built like a superhero. yeah you know what they built today's workouts are kind of built around what they do. Yeah. Right? I remember CrossFit kind of came out and then they did that fight gone bad for me.

23:21 crazy like rope work shit and plyometrics and all kinds of wild strength and conditioning. and he was doing a very similar type of, you know, you do one station here on a bike, so the amazing thank both of those guys guys for putting that on for us. Gilbert had him fucking hurt. I mean, he's an animal. It was that close. I think he's better than he was before.

25:46 You got Gilbert. He's fighting Neil Magny. Shavkat Rachmanov. He can wrestle too. But I think he's someone to keep an eye on. You got a good guillotine? June 25th. Neil Magny will test you. He'll test hell yes that guy's got cardio for days right like who puts up a better pace than So that's going to be a real good fight. That's the thing. Even Clay.

28:56 Yeah. Dude, he's been doing it forever. hunger to go to the buffet they just walk right in they just want to eat all the time yeah i don't Right. And everybody's had to deal with it. He was a magician. And here comes, he walks out, and in one minute he starts, He stepped up in weight. Yeah. For those years, Anderson was scary. He lead you into kicks.

32:17 I don't know who's better than that. But he's just totally out of his league in this fight. Yeah. That's where he really came into his own. George, was telling us that and that's when he knew it was done. And his trainer's like, stop doing that. and then he went and just Anderson was something special back then. and even with my arm and he'll just he'll just pull you right in well whatever he was doing he

35:25 people were like, what the fuck is Rich doing? When you're looking at who's the GOAT, I don't think you really can say who's the greatest in the world. Yeah. I mean, it was every step of the way, he was one step ahead. I thought he was faking. This is hard to carry this crown. I think that's what the casual fans don't understand. It's that Lord of the Ring. It's the ring. I think that's what the casual fans

38:06 which is why it's the most exciting us know that you need our help. You know, if I don't know something, if you don't know something before you get in that ring, and you pretend when coming into this. Imagine if you didn't want to listen to a Thai coach, of course you'd want to listen It's always we, right? That's where it gets crazy. Right. but lethal on the ground too.

41:16 hitting the mitts and he goes you can hit hard you can you could knock somebody out bj you you Someone has to tell you, like, hey, man, He knows, you know? just a random something terrible happened. You know? Well, now 20 years ago, or 50 years ago, I was the Jiu-Jitsu championships years back. Well, now 20 years ago, I was, And we got, his name is Tom Callis.

43:52 And then my dad's like, BJ, just go once. But it was the coolest thing. much for this gym because we have the ufc gyms in honolulu bj penn ufc gyms and she and i go no I'll always believe that. I am firmly with you. I think it can't be emphasized enough how I think a lot of people never know what normal feels like. and you get to think and have fun

46:24 but I don't think he totally knew how good he was. Like, you got to understand, to understand man like there's a lot Maybe I can figure out a way to go that way that you never figured out and then he'll he'll figure out a way that might They tell you that there's only one right answer. Some guys top heavy style. but now today the guys are like they'll go for your leg they miss they come with the elbow

48:50 Really? as he was, I saw He's coming back soon. I want to see back soon i want to see him i want to Look at that. And you take guys down and they triangle you. That's the same reason. I think they need more options. anyway would there be more would it be like boxing where there's so many champions you don't know 50, 60, 70. A lot of talented people out there.

52:28 And it's one of those things that I think we're stuck with for no good reason. but they don't do it like us his real weight give a fuck But was that a wrestling thing for us that's ingrained in us? they thought, Ducku Kim, running through your heart well also they think that people who are dehydrated there's like That is crazy. Do you know how 1FC You can't like some of these guys are cutting crazy weight.

55:10 You just emaciate yourself down to nothing. As soon as you sign your contract, your weight right there that day, that's okay. God damn, this guy's good. How long has he guys to fight healthy and if we could get everybody to fight at a natural weight and eliminate weight That's what the bikers or whatever were doing, right? It's something like they have little motors in their thing without you knowing.

57:38 I think we're lucky that we're not bikers. It's not about like precision steering. and you're trying to fucking go That's all in their mind. of the mind demons he knows how to fucking ride it out and go harder and faster and longer. Still, everybody was taking some stuff. It's impossible they you were one of the only guys that was adamant about that.

1:00:23 Yeah. So just using any kind of an IV. That's why we were there. You know how when you're in some place, right? Yeah. on a regular basis say it helps them, things now you don't even know who got busted right don't they have to change so they don't Yeah. It's hard to walk away from a career, Right? And Mike Tyson just... For Thriller and for them to make more shows after.

1:03:54 Mike looked good. Right he's 43 Yeah yeah you know they're right that's what's amazing about him how about when randy dropped him sylvia And he hit Rico good. Or Gamma G even. Yeah. So I'm not saying that he did it, but I'm saying he looked like he did it. He was a big boy with big power. And Rico was a dangerous man too. Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt.

1:06:32 How did that fight go down? He's going to be one of the featured speakers. Yeah, so he's all for it. do it for my kids. And I always say, I don't want my kids to, to be older and say, dad, But, you know, that's not going to deter me from wanting to fight for the people. Born and raised there, been there this whole time. That's all we want. I'm not here to cut everybody's programs.

1:10:15 Well, the first thing they say, the Republicans and the Democrats, I'm an outsider. Our two state senators, our two congressmen, our lieutenant governor and our governor, This is fun. I libertarian and all that, right now, was president or if a Democrat was president I really wonder like what what People were always mad. That was his actual answer to you?

1:13:23 But I got to close my businesses, and I'm just going to have to listen. And that's what finally made me stand up. And I And so I'm here. but fighting for them when it's not popular is a total different animal. And that's how they just start stripping. that same family x-ray or whatever and you put your bag through, but now you got to take Like you could give me a ticket and I could go on the plane with your ticket. Yeah, exactly

1:16:06 and then that's what they like to do. That's crazy. women, sometimes women, they get into a position of extreme power and they like to exercise Stop policing the passports. You could always do whatever the fuck you want. Yeah, nobody cares nobody cares, but What the fuck is that? I'm going to walk right into the Department of Health. Then we're going to go to the Department of Education.

1:19:04 Well, I'm going to go to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. And I'm not going to talk to the legislature to do it. I say join the fight. And I was so enthusiastic about this. I want to be with the people. What if it's more difficult to get through the maze of bureaucracy? success and all of these things. I didn't win every fight. I would come home with my face

1:21:37 Don't mess with Hawaiians. Yes. That's an act that makes all international boats go to California first before they come to Hawaii. from in do we do we build our docks bigger so they can take international boats but just have growing 100 million trees for the climate. I'm saying every tree better have fruit on it then. you kill half the life that was around in that stream.

1:24:45 go back empty. Why? Why? Why does that happen? It doesn't make any sense. How much change would We've got a lot of sun. It's weird. Whenever we go to any of those, there's a lot of speaking meetings. Yeah, yeah. You got to really make sure you make the right choice. They probably have so many problems. That's why they're giving me a chance with this name recognition.

1:27:13 That's wild. and you've got to realize this is the most wild, crazy, exciting, A small handful of them ever do in time. But it's just, it's going to be, chance. And when it's time to walk away, I've had a very, very rough time myself walking away. Keep going. You don't know. He was the man. achieve great heights they achieve one victory after another victory,

1:31:06 Hey that was the two biggest in the octagon. My whole body has Yeah, man. you're going to have some tears, I just fought Fitch. When did you feel like physically things were different? And my father told me, he said, It's like a car. And I just got tired of that kind of stuff, you know? oh, Right. still right now, I'll kick your ass right now. Thank you.

1:36:08 Nobody really liked Jiu-Jitsu. He loved Jiu-Jitsu. Then to win the Mundial as a black belt after three years of training What's your favorite thing? Let him fight black belt. we've grown up in such a serious sport right where everything is important you know yeah so i got to the the moon joe i'm glad joe hawk didn't show up that day because joe hawk was always my

1:39:06 Some of those fights At what I did Put a smile on your face There's got to be highlights. Well, I'm 43. Yeah, it's like time doesn't give a fuck, BJ. I always think about yeah BS the mask is good for you did you see what Mikey No way. He just goes. But the guy's so good and just constantly drills I mean, that is insane. back and forth. So all he has to do is get his legs out and he's got

1:43:00 Watch this little slickness right here Wow. Off the going to your knees. He this kid is off the going to your knees Look how he goes across. Now he's got it. Nasty. So he keeps digging. And watch how he sinks his choke in. How nasty. But in no-gi, he's been fantastic. I guess it's a no-gi black belt. You got literally the greatest on paper, the greatest grappler of all time.

1:45:49 That's not real. them out for the most part although he did say um you know it depends on what he eats if he eats I'm into the meat or whatever. Yeah. We're God now. I don't know exactly if this is true. And he does this and he has like a whole system and what he does is just moves them to new areas And in doing it this way, Phthalates. which makes sense right I mean it's made out of fucking

1:49:48 while a third contained polystrine, polystrine used for packaging food and other products. Yeah, that makes sense. And you see it on the rims. you're ingesting a certain amount of chemicals that are coming out of those cars, whether you like it or not. Yeah, 100%. Don't worry about it, BJ. And then I realized, oh, asshole, you're out there getting poisoned.

1:51:47 Isn't that crazy? Yeah. It's amazing you get safe housing, that all this stuff can happen in an area. I don't know what they can do. And they don't want to fight back. That's a thing that's going on in the whole world. the kid's a genius so what does it do well it's a machine that skims Wow. Wow. It's so sad. Yep. Terrence McKenna. Oh, wow. And they put up those.

1:57:43 found the directions and well I could it cryptically and I found the directions. reality is slippery and we always try to control it in our head at least we want some order to it I got way too down the rabbit hole Man. You go outside, you get eaten. I mean, we weren't there, but we don't know. you go down they stomp you dead right you know they got humans got down there was a point in

2:00:16 It's in the thousands. Oh, no. Guaranteed. And then it makes you wonder, okay, well, if we don't have real news, There's independent people that you can trust. you know you weren't there we weren't there we weren't there you know and we can just go as far You know what I mean? some kind of knowledge. Because no matter You know, you get put in those positions.

2:03:44 you up let's go run like he was running twice a day he gym. It's two in the morning. He's like, two-thirds in the morning, he wanted to go to the gym. And then like eight hours later, he'll call you up, let's go run. Floyd never gets tired. He beat him clean. Very smart. Is he a cruiserweight champion or light heavyweight? George Masvidal was like, oh, Usman still is not a real puncher

2:05:12 Yes. like, I don't see a person at 170 that's ever lived You know? But if you did look at the way Usman handled Gilbert. One punch. He's doing a great job. He's made a better MMA glove. more dense foam, so it's the They're the best gloves. You're basically like this at that point, you know, unless you have giant hands like some dudes like that. You ever do them

2:07:53 who doesn't even look real. I remember... Yeah. and your legs have nothing. that's so much standing up you're talking yeah that's so much 100 that's a big one yeah yeah You know, yeah, I guess. You want to just always be able to reflex. I mean, sooner or later you're going to have to go and shoot some baskets. little while longer that's all it's gonna be you're gonna survive for a

2:11:15 Right? Let's hear it. I cannot believe. And what year was that? Then he might have lost it to Sylvia. Bitch, it is 20 years we're talking now. So it's been 17 years. Wait, Belarus. I like that card. Proud of this guy. But there's something about extraordinary greatness when a guy just has total domination over a division. You've beaten everybody in the division.

2:14:36 He's at the peak of his powers. what did everybody say when anderson was was dominating his division oh well he doesn't have He was such an animal. and olivera real technical with his strikes nasty submissions i love oliveira and i tell him all the Ever back then, where would you start where do you begin i yeah you know it seems a lot more scary like for me

2:17:16 specialize in kickboxing, get really good at that. But I always used to say before, find what you like the most. doing that now i don't know know. I think I would, got to leave you anyway. To be the best, they've got That too. Yeah, then he imparts a perspective in these fighters just from the way he carries himself and the way he yeah Yeah, he was with me.

2:20:23 they know they know a lot yeah they to put so much in a fighter. You want to fight, step in the ring right now. there with him and then on top of that he's got custom auto who's coaching him I don't think he said fucking. know they're doing a movie with Jamie Foxx. He did. His hands looked good the other night. but I was actually filming a show when Nate Diaz came on

2:23:27 You know what I mean? Yeah. Wow. He was in Hilo. There's boats going through that, BJ. ground that's what i mean Nick's an animal Five times Nope five times Yeah him and his brother Whether or not he wants to keep fighting. There's only one place Well, they were just in Hawaii this last weekend Yeah. Right. there. And when he was in the UFC, when he beat Weidman,

2:27:26 it's an exciting matchup Is that who he hurt him Still seems very hungry. Oh, yeah. 10 fights. than you guys. it could have eluded him. He might have had to retire. The guy hung. I was very happy for Michael because, you know, that was like, it could have eluded him. So he basically said everybody after that Vitor fight, he was blind in that eye. Do you think, is cataract something that you get just... It's from fighting. It's got to be from fighting. It said on the prednisone, you could get a cataract. Do you think, is cataract something that you get just...

2:29:16 Yeah, yeah. know but let's just say I got old and started getting my ass kicked that's enough well the the interesting thing is one why i asked you like at what year you started Yeah, that's where it got weird and that's where we got confused and that's why I thought it was a career. You know, without accusing anybody. guys that had a lot of money and they

2:31:23 I didn't care. I was just I was just I do my flex and everything. But I remember thinking at the weigh-in when I saw him, I said, I'm going to win. It just got, yeah, but we know. all of my friends and foes. or whether it's, you know, George St. We saw it early on. I think that was my – the first fight I ever saw was Pat Smith sitting on it and boom, boom, boom, and then elbow. That I've been watching I think that was my the first fight I ever saw was Pat

2:34:52 Because I talked to Remco on Instagram here and there. Was he good? I might be wrong. Do you remember when Remko fought Marco Huas I forgot that he fought Marco. That's crazy. look at him Marco Huas was the man We didn't even know that. I was there for that. Come on, ground and pound me. The jiu-jitsu guys came, then the wrestlers came, then the strikers came.

2:37:27 Mark and Kurt, and then we saw Kurt Angle walk in That's hilarious. Yeah. Remember? Oh, yeah, yeah. That's how we would have to think that Coleman was so good at that time at wrestling It was very different. Yep, when you got a guy who's that big as big as Mark with a neck like my waist Like legitimately, I want to know. sport is stop pussying it up while they're still allowed to knee people in the face and shin people

2:40:21 Yes. still around. But it's a completely different format. It was just aligned aligned like the stars Well, when you watch the ultimate fight, one of the cool things about it is you got to see what a camp of guys training together would look like. it's the emotional fatigue. Yeah. Oh, my God. So I just, you know, the antidote for anxiety is confidence.

2:43:03 That's the fucking brutal reality of life. They just sit there and they're just going and they're just doing their best. cat running around there eating things and it got a little too close to the water and this lions and the crocodiles you might not be able to find it what is that yeah they'll kill you on that Look, it moved. I couldn't even see what he was eating.

2:45:20 Do you think that as a fighter you experience life Then I came back into the UFC But you were even better You had a wild pace, man. for certain fights like that it's almost a bad thing to be in good shape because you're just Okay. that's why that strength and conditioning program for you is so important because you didn't have And I remember it was Gilbert Melendez's boxing coach.

2:48:57 All of us have. You can bust through that line and you can do these things, you know. But there's a lot of value in the people that want to say, hey, come on, and inspire you and say, get up, you can bust through that line, and you can do these things. you know what I mean you know what I mean Right? I had that very conversation with a coach about that today.

2:51:03 with the right promoters everything right? You get with the right promoters, everything's smooth, make sure you get your money when you step into the ring. It became a real problem. Be a man. But it's just interesting the different mindsets. He was big. How about when he KO'd Vanderlei with that high kick? Yes, the two top guys fighting. Did Nogueira fight Fedor after he fought Bob Sapp?

2:53:20 Noguera, the pile driver in the beginning. Because he wants to spread that seed. They know what they're doing. Same way. is kill that lion's babies right yeah because run. Just run around and kill all his sons. Nature's so ruthless. You know, but that's not going to be the lion's job. They are. You're making a good point talking about that. He's not the fastest.

2:56:00 Yeah, right? That's what that's for. It's an amazing world. We want less taxes. I'm for hemp also. opportunity you know and that's that's what that's over here but what marijuana I'm starting to freak out. If so many people find it beneficial and you don't even use it, how are you informed and wise enough to tell grown adults what they can and can't do with something they enjoy that you have no personal knowledge of?

2:58:39 I really do. Get shit right. But that's what we need to do over there in Hawaii because it's a bankrupt state, Does that involve bringing industries to hawaii like how the gasoline you can. in the world sure other species of the acacia family grow in other parts of the world oh but You think they got there from birds? But Captain Cook never seen those.

3:02:16 Hawaiian but I mean what we don't know what year do they think Hawaiians let weird just our whole our whole thing is just life's just weird i wonder if this estimate of uh And it comes from a specific era that they think these people came through. And Mexico City was this whole thing. And maybe it would have been as hard to miss. Exactly. What year would you think it would be?

3:05:19 Really, what we're saying here is very interesting. And it's kind of like the Asians came down And so many warriors. Me and everybody. Yeah. Yes. Royce Alger. He broke his arm. When he was world champion, kickboxer. That too. Always. Well, BJ, it's been to be the best at it. That's Egan. Nice. Always. very much. Thank you. Thank you.