Aljamain Sterling

Date: 2026-08-11 | Duration: 2h 49m

Episode Overview

Joe Rogan sits down with former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling for a wide-ranging discussion covering fighting, business ventures, and the unique challenges faced by professional athletes. The conversation begins with Sterling showcasing his custom gold and diamond grills, prompting a light-hearted exchange about the commitment involved in such dental work and funny anecdotes from fellow comedian Theo Von. They quickly transition to analyzing recent UFC fights, specifically breaking down an impressive grappling performance by a rising star, discussing intricate techniques like back control and submission setups, and the importance of protecting the neck in grappling exchanges. Sterling shares his thoughts on the contentious "win bonus" system in the UFC, arguing against its fairness and revealing how a substantial bonus offer once motivated him to fight more aggressively, despite ultimately being canceled out by his opponent's defensive strategy. Joe and Sterling also delve into the physical toll of competitive fighting, with Sterling opening up about past injuries, including a bulging disc in his neck, and the chronic nerve damage he still experiences. The discussion then moves to Sterling's various business ventures, including his "Funk Harbor" rum company and his line of "Triumph" cigars, which he brought as gifts for Joe and Jamie. He passionately explains his desire to elevate rum beyond a vacation-only drink and his goal of creating a legacy outside of fighting. Later, they explore the complexities of weight cutting in MMA, debating the merits of same-day weigh-ins and the need for more weight classes. Sterling advocates for a system with 10-pound increments, similar to boxing, to promote fighter safety and better performance. They touch on the cultural differences in sports fandom, contrasting the passionate, sometimes aggressive, crowds in European basketball with American audiences, and Sterling recounts a harrowing experience in Serbia where an Albanian friend was threatened with a grenade. The episode concludes with Sterling expressing his hopes for another title shot at Featherweight, emphasizing his improved skills and experience, and Joe commending him for his entrepreneurial spirit.

About Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion known for his exceptional grappling skills and technical striking ability inside the octagon. Beyond fighting, Sterling has built a diverse portfolio of business ventures, including his Funk Harbor rum company and Triumph cigar line, reflecting his ambition to create a lasting legacy outside of professional combat sports. During his career, he has been vocal about fighter welfare issues, particularly regarding weight-cutting practices and the UFC's bonus system, positioning himself as a thoughtful advocate for athlete safety and fair compensation in mixed martial arts.

Key Moments

00:02:16 – Analysis of Islam Makhachev's grappling dominance at UFC Apex
00:06:21 – Joe Rogan's strong critique of UFC win bonuses
00:08:04 – Explaining 'boring' MMA fights and fighter psychology
00:10:24 – Aljamain Sterling's adaptation to fight smarter after career 'wars'
00:12:02 – Aljamain's struggles competing with a bulging disc in his neck
00:13:00 – Joe Rogan on why online 'haters' are often 'losers'
00:15:44 – Sean Strickland's unique personality and surprising financial acumen
00:18:49 – Aljamain Sterling gifts 'Funkmaster' cigars and Funk Harbor rum
00:23:13 – Joe Rogan explains the origin of 'The Mothership' comedy club name
00:25:24 – Joe Rogan's experience overeating on an Italy trip
00:26:40 – Aljamain Sterling discusses weight differences between 135 and 145 lbs
00:28:07 – Debate on restructuring MMA weight classes and same-day weigh-ins
00:30:29 – Discussion on the extreme size disparity in Heavyweight MMA
00:31:49 – Junior Dos Santos' brutal fights against Cain Velasquez
00:35:55 – Aljamain Sterling's ideal 4-month weight cut strategy
00:37:47 – Aljamain Sterling's controversial alcohol use during training camp
00:41:40 – Analysis of Dennis Bazukia's disputed 'tap' stoppage
00:44:27 – Amosov's high-level grappling and Jason Jackson's striking prowess
00:45:37 – Breakdancing as an unexpected base for Jiu-Jitsu and Eddie Bravo's approach
00:47:09 – Joe Rogan's decision to stop BJJ due to accumulating injuries
00:49:18 – Detailed breakdown of the Taekwondo spinning back kick technique
00:52:19 – Jon Jones' strategic development of the spinning back kick for heavyweight
00:53:56 – Discussion on natural punching power versus technique and fight IQ
00:55:17 – Aljamain Sterling's pre-fight strategy against Merab Dvalishvili (Yusuf)
01:01:23 – Discussion on the numerous, often arbitrary, weight classes in boxing
01:06:26 – Breakdown of potential Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Garry fight dynamics
01:07:46 – Aljamain Sterling's interest in grappling with Dagestani fighters
01:09:32 – Marab Dvalishvili's chaotic style and GSP's use of feints
01:11:01 – Aljamain's coaching philosophy: training with specific intent
01:16:06 – The rapid evolution of MMA skill levels over the past two decades
01:19:32 – Max Holloway's relentless pace and conditioning as an advantage
01:21:49 – Graphic discussion of Raphael Alves' brutal head kick KO of James Vick
01:24:20 – Aljamain Sterling's past fear of career-ending head injuries
01:26:30 – Criticism of Volkanovski's rapid return to fighting after multiple KOs
01:28:33 – The phenomenon of a fighter's 'chin' deteriorating over time (Chuck Liddell)
01:29:56 – Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson's infamous slam KO of Ricardo Arona
01:30:13 – Cyborg Evangelista Santos' severe skull injury from Michael Page's knee
01:31:19 – Discussion of another brutal Muay Thai elbow injury causing skull indentation
01:33:56 – Aljamain Sterling's thoughts on MMA career longevity
01:34:25 – Discussing UFC fighter pay and media scrutiny
01:36:11 – Analysis of Lerone Murphy vs. Movsar Evloev fight
01:37:39 – Marab Dvalishvili's strategy against Sean O'Malley
01:39:54 – Fighters consistently competing with injuries
01:42:58 – Cyril Gane's unique movement and striking
01:47:32 – Tom Aspinall's eye poke incident and recovery
01:50:24 – Preview of Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Garry fight
01:51:35 – Debate on the controversial nature of oblique kicks
01:53:18 – Strategies for fighting effectively in the clinch
01:54:49 – Mackenzie Dern vs. Gillian Robertson grappling matchup
01:56:03 – Abdul-Malik Khasiev's tough fight against Bojan Velickovic
02:01:05 – Jon Jones' legendary early UFC career and title win
02:02:18 – Aljamain Sterling's views on mental coaches in MMA
02:10:09 – George St-Pierre's dedication to martial arts and chess
02:10:20 – Aljamain Sterling's journey into playing chess
02:14:56 – The history and culture of rum, Funk Harbor Rum
02:19:09 – Aljamain Sterling's 'I'm coming for that ass' quote
02:20:00 – Yair Rodríguez's exceptional kicking techniques
02:22:00 – Aljamain Sterling's decision to move to Las Vegas for training
02:25:59 – Analysis of Steve Garcia vs. Diego Lopes' fighting styles
02:30:14 – Ilia Topuria's victory over Justin Gaethje and its impact
02:37:29 – Hostile crowd atmosphere at Serbian basketball games
02:41:30 – Witnessing a hostile encounter in Serbia with a grenade threat
02:44:24 – Dennis Buzukja's experience fighting in hostile territory
02:48:00 – Aljamain Sterling's entrepreneurial journey with Funk Harbor Rum

Transcript Excerpt

[00:00:01] Joe Rogan podcast, checking out. The Joe Rogan Experience. Train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night, all day. What's with the goal to? What's going on? Give you smile. Oh, you got it top and bottom, man. What did you do? [00:00:20] It's amazing. I've always wanted to have money so I could get one of these when I was a kid growing up. Now, is that one of the ones that you could take out or is it? Okay, that's good. Because that's such a commitment, you know? One day you got to go to the White House Right You got diamonds and gold in your teeth [00:00:40] That's crazy It might be your first time, you know How does it fit? It's like a retainer Yeah, so they fit it, they mold it I got it done in Dallas actually And they just fit it mold to your teeth And then you can pop them in It's almost like wearing a retainer [00:01:11] And you asked about the headphones and he said something like, it's like sitting there with the, with the condom. And she's just looking at you or I forget exactly how the joke goes. But it was funny. It was like one of Theo Vaughn's greatest moments where he says all these things. He was like, when I feel like saying it, I just write it down. I don't know if you saw this clip But it's how I mean I'm sure I was there when it happened [00:01:36] But he says so many ridiculous things I can't remember Here guys Over here, I didn't see you put it on On I feel like I'm alone here It's weird huh It's like when you put a condo on and then The other person's just still looking at their phone [00:02:07] The headphones That just came to my head It immediately Yeah Sometimes I have them off Sometimes I have them on But it's better to have them on It locks you in [00:02:16] Locks you in You know I feel that Did you watch the UFC This past weekend The Apex? I watched The main event [00:02:38] Oh, it was amazing. He took him down, which I was kind of surprised. I was like, why is he going for the take down? Crazy. Proving a point. Proving a poin...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #10184?

Aljamain Sterling was the guest on JRE #10184. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #10184?

On Joe Rogan Experience #10184 with Aljamain Sterling, topics include Analysis of Islam Makhachev's grappling dominance at UFC, Joe Rogan's strong critique of UFC win bonuses, Explaining 'boring' MMA fights and fighter psychology, and Aljamain Sterling's adaptation to fight smarter after.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #10184?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #10184 with Aljamain Sterling is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.