Joe Rogan Experience #471 — Matt Serra Transcript

Transcript

0:00 Joe Rogan Podcast, check it out! Was it 2002 or 2003? So it was 2002, right? it was so funny that was ages ago just so cool Drago was there. Yeah. these rock-em-sock-em especially back then, Put him to sleep. not that it means anything though, I can't even do it justice, you can't talk like that. you know, yeah. You know, because he's such a... when Joe Silver called me, you know, he wasn't sure of himself for sure.

3:44 People ask about my record beforehand. And that's back when, even though they were bigger This one guy, this fight's on ESPN. You get a tough Russian guy, you know you gotta choke Guys back then, there was more shows. crazy wars. he had great fights. gotten a lead XC or something but was he fighting in Ring of Fire where was he Then he upgraded it to Ring of Combat.

6:44 Right. I don't think they started first calling it then. That was when they shut down the Buffalo Show whether or not you're going to go to Alabama If you were a young kid trying to get in the business, dude, that's before the fear factor and everything. it looked to other people. I did that thing in town for the, it was at the fucking U of C global gym over in Torrance.

8:50 You couldn't even get that on fight in the ufc was 30 ufc 31 i mean what are we up to and that's not even counting all the other And that's the weigh-ins right there. You were in the middle of it while it was becoming controversial. I was never out of shape ever. I wish he would have done something afterwards. Just one. Jiu-Jitsu served me in every one of my fights. I mean, it saved my ass with fights where I was not the uh the hammer i was the nail like

11:35 Things work in mysterious ways, man. the Matt Hughes fights. Matt Hughes. Oh, dude. That fucking is ridiculous. what it's like but you know bicep when it tears it. You know what it's like. But, you know, bicep, when it tears, it's pretty functional. A hamstring, and I dieted all the way down, you got to get your hours in of sparring you got to clock your time in like

14:08 He just left me that guy. You know, you got to. they, they're just, there's like, just the, and he was a little guy, so it wasn't knocking, It wasn't a hook. Cause you could tell that the thing just rolled up. My first time ever, you know. goes he goes then then you know then you could fight i told him i wanted to fight i go listen Two weeks later, right?

16:56 i wrestled a little in junior high and stuff but i um you know i wasn't no master weight cutter i And I'm like, I'm nervous. yo, man, you got to eat. So he brought me right through it, I wasn't, they might be walking around at 170. Yeah, you flush all that out. No, man, I'll tell you. Like, Glace and T-Bow. I don't know, dude. Of anybody in any weight class.

19:50 I'm kind of like, if there was a 165, 160, you know, I love it all day long, when it comes to losing weight, Like when he fought Caro, that was a great fight, man. You see the tear in his right bicep. yeah everything went right in that fight Not during the fight. But where was I at? And what would you do? Yeah, you're mounted on me, and what I do is I'm mounted, I'm saying, boom.

22:31 Oh, that's beautiful. If you have a good mount, it still works. First time we saw that in the UFC, it was like, oh, shit. and Sakuraba dropped down for a single, what the fuck are you doing? I was going to say, they don't normally do that, man. Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and one of the big giant dude That was around the same time when Maury Smith beat Conan, too.

24:23 Remember how Half Gracie fought with a wedding ring on? Did he really? yeah Remember Half Gracie Fought with a wedding ring on Half Gracie From Brazil and I had like a, I fell and I had to get I don't know how like onto the side of the cart and just ripped the whole skin layer off I so do I remember watching it back. So I knew where it was because of the two bulldogs going at each other.

26:41 and he wasn't even Vitor. He had like a street fighting system. Dude, I remember. We had a wooden dummy in the garage. You know what I mean? It's these two guys. That's it. I think he challenged old school It's just all just moves. And I used to watch what really got me, I was that guy. knowing that there was somebody versus style. So or somewhere I found out about that seminar.

30:42 But then they were talking about, and I'm just thinking like, And he would say, And then maybe a cage. UFC 2? I didn't find out about it until 94. and started training again. Once I started training, versus style? It's no rules and I was like you got to be Jason DeLucia, he armlocked. Who did he fight? First UFC because he grabbed the wrong way. Who the hell was in the second one?

33:49 Here we go. Okay, so here's- Lapel. That was devastating. Johnny Rhodes versus Fred Eddish. Michio Ohara, And Remco took out that little tie boxer. He was out cold. a jujitsu black belt eventually right he's a judo guy and then after the hoist fight he got into It was back then. They made some pretty quick leaps afterwards. some type move boom he caught me man people sleep on Keith Hackney that dude

36:55 make you almost go, whoa. How would Hoyes do against elite strikers? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I mean, he's old school. Yeah, I remember. You'll find that. He fucked one guy up too, right? There he is. This is watched the finals Yeah Do you have the ending to that Well, he just... He hit him with a couple right hands. Oh, he tapped? because I am a grappler also.

40:06 That's really nice. Guys who are good jiu-jitsu, good guys that he's fought, So him and Maya just was, just technically, And he's got those nice foot sweeps. You ain't taking him down. fight. Yes, that's the Essentially, there were some critical fights on that card. Hector Lombard and Jake Shields. Yeah. Five rounds going full blitzkrieg the way he does when he's going after you.

43:00 especially in between rounds, if you're in that shape, just gets you from barely You feel better. and now you're getting hit, and you've got to get out, and you're losing the round. There was times I, at 155, I never gassed. some of the other fights that he's been winning I'll be honest with you. Why don't you show the fucking first fight like what did

45:38 I ever had to pull out of So we went through that thing. Now, listen. good, who has to pull out First time she ever saw me and what in my Huntington Academy you know And a nice kid was visiting. Who's another really good In the finale I went to lift and next thing you know, it was like, in my life I was a chiropractor i'm dying i'm sweating from it.

48:31 just could you crack me? all right. he goes, alright, you could turn over. turn, I was screaming, like a Here's your fucking $50. The ride back was horrendous. You can get things done. And no excuses. It was December Because George fought He did Where am I getting? I didn't have my best camp. Probably not. nearly as bad but when my fingers went numb and my elbows were hurting like my elbow like the the

52:36 I go to hit. It was the weirdest feeling. too long i'll get numb so when you were fighting did it? Did your right arm work? It worked, but it was – For a while You know Right away saying So out of all the shit Well, it's weird. see that was scary That's fucked up. You like Thor? So I was training. I went to a doctor. I got to check this out. I went to, um, doctor,

56:18 It looked like I had a big pump. I thought I just pulled something, but it felt, something felt a little weird, you know? so we slept over Friday night and then just sleeping the way home. to a fucking waiting room I gotta go to a fucking ER, man. So my wife She didn't want me going alone. I infected something, you know. And she's like, why do you think it's infected? I go,

58:59 I go, blood clots? He goes, uh, uh. All right, you got something in there. It probably is, dude. Like, all right, they gave me immediately a needle to stick in my belly for the So, and she told me right whenever I can't be on that, man. I can't fuck it. What the fuck am going on. You know, this is all big happening. I can't be on that, man. And she's, you know, she is an emotional mess.

1:01:31 Where was I Because it opens up So I'm like, yeah, I heard something. somehow that for some reason that fucking killed me man i remember if you don't take the pain It's so wet. So they said you had to take it for life. this thing I have, you know, I never got surgery and all my UFC fights, So he goes, nobody does a lot Black and sweet. You know Anthony Giordano, right?

1:05:06 Don't let me forget that. Oh, you bake it. It's just not. There's something about, I'm going to, yes, I'm going to have a slice Well, I've never had with gluten? No. What the fuck? I don't believe brown rice is gluten. so that they could deal with pesticides it's just hard for your body to digest. So you're better having the regular Wonder Bread than having some whole wheat bread?

1:06:59 Yeah, wheat has gluten in it. pasta that might actually help out. what are the little Well, no, not just squash. No, no. homemade sauce. Yeah. Your body just digests it easily. It makes you feel bloated and whatnot. It's fucking great. It's like passing the guard. to eat the my pasta and this and that i would almost have to get myself to get into it again

1:09:49 I don't know what that is. but it's just a stevia extract Way better for you. I don't know how the fuck they make Splendor, man. I know, yeah. This is way better for you. Way better for you. You know what I used to take all the time before I used to? Longo used to get me conditioned for just grappling matches. I don't know. I hate that thing. That's probably why

1:11:15 just bah, bah. Conditioning was one thing single, double, downs from the clinch is so much it's so much a better it's so much a better game for the for the because, you know, I'm more of the ground guy Some guys you don't want training yet because, that one that was bad and i got to the bat he wasn't even looking at me he um fucking long ago So I was in such good shape that I was so irked that I didn't do more during the fight

1:14:08 but you know, I'm not out of respect. Cause people, oh, you're obsessed with the guy. But not you in particular, but the thing is this. So before we sit down, I go, alright, he was because the guy was a great know, a great fighter. Hey, come here, kids. I'm doing, I'm fucking, Fuck you. That was the name of that movie? Yeah, Joey Diaz is hilarious Digstown

1:16:28 and James Woods but the thing is this this girl What would the rules be? It's like, all right, now I see where we're going. I'm very, very. I got my schools and I built my schools up through my fight. And, you know, I get to spend all the time with my kids because I get to take them to school. I experienced that I feel like I quenched. It doesn't mean I can't go back to that, never doing a

1:18:56 So when I went to Miami that year and, uh, and I won, Like the thing with Abu Dhabi. Don't know how huge that is that guy's phenomenal. He's been my instructor since 1998 I'm three months out from that blood-spinning shit that I had done. But my neck is 100% now. Depending upon what I do, like what kind of working out I do you know I was you know I've been

1:21:06 Yeah I do the one where I bring it Figure eights Of the fucking Turkish delights And I like it Yeah there's nothing It translates really well for grappling. I got a... Oh, so yeah. They would have these hardwood ones where it was like a long handle. Like you're holding a handle and the weight's all up here. It's like all wobbly and shit. It's very difficult to keep steady. Yeah, because they're odd. It's like odd weight, like you're holding a handle, and the weight's all up here.

1:22:57 Yeah, because like maces and club bells, Then I put it on the scale. Yeah. all right, I'm going to stay on top. but it just helps me. before you train? and then I get nice and loose with that, yoga like the hot yoga oh that's fantastic but shit man it's like an hour I could roll for that long, on what kind of instructor you have, too. The first, after I fought George, too,

1:26:12 Interlock as I could do a full split. flexible lower body so I'd be able to make a little bit of space, and I'm short, so I can make this, but every body type has its pros and its I love watching that guy fight. Because Alan Belcher I'm not sure No, he was getting the knee to the floor, I believe. The thing about Paul Harris, what I notice is he comes out almost like a knockout boxer

1:28:26 And he's like my body type. Yeah. and the next thing you know he had to submit him twice in one fight. Fabio Gurgel. Absolutely. Big fan of those guys. But it was true. And I'm cool with Lin-Lin too, That happened to Drago. and they said I should have made and I should you know, ah, I'll do what you want me to do, and Drago took the arm again. That happened to Paul Harris at Abu Dhabi.

1:31:40 Well, not only that, they started him back up with the leg lock locked in with Paul Harris. Ready, go. and he knows how to adjust if you've ever been that's why they stopped it with the original Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments Yeah. Do you ever think about doing that? You know nothing on the radar I and that's what I did with my schools. Valante, you know, all the guys.

1:33:54 My 6 o'clock no-key class. I got Thai boxing. have to give a fuck you have that passion if you're not otherwise doesn't i remember everything i'll tell you the story through here i'll tell you the story he had a Up until I got married. So eventually You know I can't I showed you the room I used to get up, meet my buddy Sergio. Go back. Yep. We got our black belts on the same day.

1:37:28 It was 2000. I want you guys to do 10 minutes. And then Henzo hands out the black belts right there. Henzo Gracie, I always go back to no matter whatever I achieve, and go to my college, which was the Henzo Gracie Academy. At three o'clock in the morning I thought I was losing my mind You're not good in like six hours you know what i mean and how old were you then? I was 19

1:40:19 fucking fun time that must have been. Late midnight Armbar's Kevin Jackson. Royce. from the bottom, from the butt scoot position I've ever seen. He can like hold his breath for like seven fucking minutes. Yeah, I remember that. living with Rodrigo, when I lived with Rodrigo, you just, but when you're in the moment it's you you know you're loving doing what you're doing but you

1:43:25 And then once in a while, I'd take either a grappling super fight or I'd take the local fight where I'd sell tickets, make money. But, man, that was just such a fucking, that was just a good time, man. And I'm like, dude, I go, listen, man. Are you fucking crazy? I went through an I do drive-thru. So I go, all right. So it was supposed to be two months.

1:45:29 But at the time, I wouldn't change a thing. And he's already going back I go to Oh there you go Oh, man. And then they can go right back to that basement and be happy again. Now I'm like, But you're having a great time. and Ray, man, Yeah, he is, yeah. Oh, did you say that? It was pay-per-view because he fought Diego. I don't give a shit. It's stupid that it's an exhibition.

1:48:08 because he lost. on your record. you know, we were talking about before i don't even think we even finished that because after that this and that I'm up whatever Like Pete Dragocell, he really should have only a couple losses, man. He went to go, and I used that to get on top and finish. He goes, Matt. And listen, I know what his. He's got a sick one

1:50:28 you think like or whatever it is with Caro I would have mounted his ass, too. mount that might have been fucking different right there yeah Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? Yeah, I saw that. I think so. You stay in the center, there's no left or right to go. I think that you should learn how to get out of that. Then people can be going out of bounds, though.

1:53:30 If a guy can cut you off and pin you up against the cage I think that... God forbid you get a guy that loses some heart. running around not the best idea as a weapon itself you, he can keep adjusting as you move. No, it does make a huge difference as far as skill-wise because without that wall, you'd it just looked like very frustrating for Chael Yeah.

1:55:44 It's funny. What do you think about Shogun went well, and I believe that was at 205. Yes. Yeah. It's funny. I think it was legit. big thing. Well, I mean, it might make it might make not a difference in the world or it might That's why it is TRT Vitor. these veins that looked like garden hoses. good friends. Yeah. And we worked out at the same gym as Vitor's trainer.

1:57:35 He was purple while he was working out, like a grape. And he went to Vegas, and he ended up having a heart attack or something. Great jiu-jitsu. wanted it. Chris wanted it. Because if you look at him, In those three fights. that it's really upsetting that him and Chris with Chris and Anderson. I mean, but he knocked him down. It was disturbing to me because I had an issue, you know, look,

2:00:28 Like that's why everybody thought I was going to get destroyed by St. Pierre. So in other words, like I didn't have too many many fights like my last fight with fucking Chris Lytle. You don't want too many of those fights. Did you have that fight? First fight, how bad it was? up against the cage, I lost that fight and it changed, 2004 or whatever it was.

2:01:56 because I'm like, and I'm like, very cool guys and uh i'll tell you it was one of those things where everything just it worked out If I go on here and let's say I don't end up winning, a bunch of knuckleheads in there these are all good dudes man you know what I mean the guys that Was that season the same season that Travis Luter was on? phenomenal man he but he's and I love try still talk to Travis he's uh once in

2:04:52 I was in phenomenal shape for that show. He goes, sugar, sugar. He needed a long go. His fucking jiu-jitsu is tight, man. And even though Charles McCarthy was on it. It was good. And it was one of those things, if he didn't submit you, It was weird. Check it out. I'm thinking he blasted him with it, but I was there live. boom. Yeah, just pull up Travis

2:07:23 can't help. Yeah. So he came into it. Here it is right here. There's a little bit Eastman out cold. Here it is. Right here. That didn't clock him? I remember in real life thinking it grazed him. I think Marvin had something wrong with him, man. You know what? TRT Vitor is fucking throwing wheel kicks. When did he get Americaned by Jon Jones? Because I talked to Vitor. There's always stuff behind the scenes,

2:09:46 So from the point really ever threatening that much from back. Yeah, that's why. to a point where he's so healthy that he can actually fight not just not just like get to a who you definitely have that gut feeling or I know what you're saying. in his camp yeah everybody's in who like you can't say you can't say everybody i know what i've done His philosophy about it.

2:12:03 So all these guys who've been on it for years, Vitor's been on it for years now. that are going to stimulate your body's production of testosterone. Just because I got my stuff tested. the bad use thing you look like you were that's a good troll Dude you're calling me Shrek You know you look like that Yeah, if you got any bridge troll clothes, my body's full of them.

2:13:38 Get it? Jesus Christ. I've been all over the world. Come on, man. We had a good time in England, remember? Oh, we did. Really? A fucking A. Long Island. You got to get off Long Island. You got to see the world. Jesus Christ. Fun. A bunch of guys out on the road in New York. when I was 23, I was the only American So he goes, I want you guys to go down there and train with them.

2:15:03 He ended up hurting him somehow, his leg, we had four minute matches and it was just all, Uno, he had a very good guard and he would stand back it was just you were thought as one of the most dangerous guys. I think we were talking about traveling the world. 30, It was, it was, it was, and I was in shape and I was rolling all, it was, you know, all

2:16:51 now because now you get fucking guys just wanting to do well with you and now you're gonna name you he fought on the same fight night that I would Pete Williams no before that he oh Roberto Traven they're thinking you're a black belt in jiu-jitsu Look at that. Yeah, yeah. He was different, man. He was kicking on me. He was fast as shit then, too. He was different, man.

2:18:35 This Roberto Traven The guy went to his ass. You know what that is? He's a pretty high-level jiu-jitsu guy. Yeah, me neither. He had the old school shorts, too. That's fucking crazy, man. You know, they just don't want to get hit. know maybe he's lighter and his neck came out a little bit rise got a hell of a squeeze oh he's went for a heel hook on Kevin Lee.

2:21:00 i would have had it man and the guy had his fingers in my glove how could the referee not see that He uses it pretty slick. That was a very good fight. I would have been really interested to see what happened if he didn't hurt his hand early in that fight. You can hold on to it, which I think doesn't make sense. I was watching my buddy. you have to evolve or die

2:22:40 again I won Old school guy. He jumped on me, but he was so afraid of my jiu-jitsu back then or concerned about it that he jumped on and he – I went to grab him. started firing off some elbows. But again again game of some ass out of you. No, not too long ago. he's a great fighter. Man, listen, it's going to catch up to you sooner or later. That's my therapy.

2:25:00 That was who stopped Yves. Oh, did he? Yeah. But, um, anyway, one of the best lightweights on the planet. Remember when the UFC? Fought Jorge Masvidal. Oh, man. Fedor fought Matt Lindland. Matt Lindland was. Japan was all about giving you fights on short notice. But we were always training, but it was different back then. You know what I mean? he's going I'm a little bit off the side but I noticed what's going on and I'm thinking what

2:28:18 Yeah, sure. He's with the kid, Oliveira. Where's Frankie Edgar? you get him down, Yeah, he's all potential And he wanted me to fight Makako's partner at the academy or something. It was something wild, like some kind of challenge match. I don't even know who the guy was There was a lot of and stuff he wasn't making it in Yeah. And Craig was under- But anyway, I started with Craig for a couple years, then Enzo came.

2:31:10 driving to Red Bank, New Jersey from my house. Let me try this. I believe when it comes to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it always evolves because now it's so much You know what I like? from two you're on bottom I know you like to guard. I want you to get cross side. So what? you know, when I first started training It's a totally different thing. No, it's actually harder to hit a guy with bare knuckles.

2:34:00 I know what it's like. Did you ever roll with the gloves on? You need more space to get that underneath. So it compresses, and I slip to it to, you know – So it's almost like they want the choke going to break the jaw. So it compresses and I slip to it to, watch when I'm on his back take that jaw out. Yeah. Yeah. passed right up the middle boom right up at the mount and that was a beautiful thing to watch. I want to watch that again, how he passed right up the middle, boom, right up at the mount, and that was a fucking black belt mount.

2:36:20 They had this thing after the fight. He's like a fucking... His ability to close the distance. Just... No, no, no, no. When is it? was saying, right? Hector ran over him. That last fight, you could see that he's a fucking powerhouse. No. Damian Maia in that last fight, his punches were flying to their home, And I love his, like I said before, his fight with Jake Shields.

2:39:36 Shit was landed. And every time you do that, your fucking energy bar in the video game is going a little lower, believed in those punches, I think he could have, Rory's a good kicker. But I think you need to have, it's not even a one-trick pony, because he's a well-rounded You got to have the respect. Now, how about I went to St. Pierre? Henzo knew what was up.

2:42:04 I love jiu-jitsu. Yeah, I i'm carrying that flag it's always in my blood if i go out here and try I swear to God that's where I busted my jaw The second guy, dude, how about that tough man experience was the worst head trauma than all my fights combined. Oh! It's funny it was me because I used to of street fights together. No headgear. in versus this platoon leader

2:44:16 and they stopped it It's funny. And then the second guy I fought was this tough Irish guy from Jersey. I don't do this. So you were already concussed. And then I fucking, I went in the last one. That was not three hours. I'm going to come back again, man, for sure. I told you when I saw you before because I'm a big Kevin Smith fan. fucking doing oh get the fuck out of here they wouldn't believe it you're gonna be on rogan's

2:46:42 werewolf i fucking scared the shit out of there got an archery range. You got a fucking werewolf. I fucking scared the shit out of you. There's an archery range from the door. That's fucking badass. fucking try. and one of them I told you that in Vegas Listen, man, you're a great guy. Man, thank you so much, man. And if you are in Long Island and you want to learn some jiu-jitsu, this is the motherfucker.

2:48:18 After Chris Weidman's fight, you've got to come in again. of my main schools in Philly. It's just go to my website Thanks also to Onnit.com. Big kisses.