Joe Rogan Experience #730 — Demetrious Johnson Transcript

Transcript

0:00 How are you, sir? No. You know what? because you keep getting better and better and better. like sure why not did a kickboxing fight won that he goes good job then he's like hey there's a You want to take it? mixed martial arts, to get me ready. It's not gi, just grappling because basically you're half-naked when you're fighting. Six months? So here's Tacoma, where I used to live.

3:01 Yes. Like who? Shaq Khan. Who's that? That's And then he wouldn't talk to me or anything. You say that like everybody would know what you're talking about. And then eventually, once I had the first fight with Ian McCall, he goes, So you're only training with me two days a week. He started overseeing everything I did when it was swimming, conditioning, everything.

4:57 So after that fight, the first team call fight, he was like, Oh, and even though he's – I think he's 49. And then sometimes we'll come back and we'll spar. Watch. You still got it, don't you? Yeah. It was definitely going south for Pat. I remember he tore Kenny Monday's leg. Those are the two guys that I'll tell people if they go, hey, man, I'm thinking about really taking this seriously.

7:55 You know what? I'm going to get this rested. It's so smart to do. for the title, he had an MCL tear. He couldn't do anything. So all he did was sprints on the was and he goes yeah you pretty much tore it so we need to get that here and i was like well matt to everybody yeah it does happen it's kind of crazy if you look at the ufc schedule i think it's very rare that a fighter pulls out of a fight.

10:53 I'm going to get this paper. When's the next time you're going to fight Floyd Mayweather? I'll be taken care of. It's, you know, that's his gig. I agree. and I saw how he crossed distance and how he could take a shot. Who knows what the fuck's going to happen in that fight. That's what I like about it. What I love about that fight where people go, who's going to win it? Who's going to be, who knows what the fuck's going to happen in that fight.

12:38 God damn, Conor takes a good shot. appreciate that i appreciate it's quite thank you quite have as majestic a beard as yours. Thank you. I appreciate that. because of the IV ban? performance-enhancing drugs. 60 pounds, that's a giant difference. So when I cut to 125, I mean, it's a hard cut. That's what I've heard on the street. so for me i'm all for it i think you're gonna start seeing a lot of guys like hannah brow he's

15:45 Or here's a better solution. Then test them after the fight and you're covered. No. He was saying this guy was hiding something we didn't further depth and he was hiding he was masking drugs with the IV So it was public that they got caught. Let's speculate. Yeah. And I think back in the day, the culture of it was okay with that. At all. After got on the fight he goes I came home, and he saw my knees my knees were just blown up

19:11 and be able to walk away like that. I was like, no. huh, he's going to get tired and you're going to be able to finish him. Matt was like, He's pushing all his chips in. slower yeah and there's a few guys that still fight like that even though that's their the and there was obviously technical But she fucking you could do nobody trained in the gym like hey round one fight right nobody

21:38 She likes this collision. But as me, Like you have to look at, is to me. I was sitting there back there just eating a banana. alright and then what she do I got 25 minutes Well, I think the overwhelming moment man, that was a surreal moment. Yeah. No, Ronda! And I was like, wow, this is crazy. So once Holly, I mean, when Holly had her down once once before and then she got up and holly kind of let

25:41 but I would say, you know, if we went to Holly Holm right now, she would probably, you know, still have abs, she's a world champion in boxing. Ronda Rousey, I'm like, I just need to see her kick. She doesn't need to kick. My legs are longer than my feet, so I can use my kicks to change the distance, to disguise She's not versatile in that. skill set she's been given, absolutely amazing.

27:57 You have to be able to kick. i saw from her last fight and granted she broke her hand, I don't know what around, but when I saw from that fight, it would be Paige Van Zandt. So, like I said, I never like to give out my predictions because people— She's still new. She puts on a high pace to where she's in your face. wrestled him i got in there started clinching him grabbing his head and then when he tried to put

30:46 I was like, you're so, you're so talented, so good. That's what's going to fucking happen. I mean, you watch her fight, and there's no question about it. Oh, yeah, that's why I can go to the club now and I can drink. Which can push her to be like unique. my skills have kind of harnessed. and hit him Yep. Well, he trains with Nick Curzon, Like incredibly similar as far as like how good they both are Oh, yeah, but dos Anjos was just landing just a little bit quicker was a little bit. He was there first he never let

33:44 But each time they got up, Conor, they are putting the pressure on him. And that's what I think Dos Anjos did. It's so crazy because if you, It's just not. like the sport is evolved even from 2005 if you go back to the time Now, I know you've probably been paying attention to John Jones has been powerlifting. because Jon Jones is longer. is that Jon Jones, yes, he's put on weight.

36:17 So if anything, I think it's worse for DC and cormier when they fought i felt like john jones and i've always felt like this with john but i felt like he was like i I'm going to fucking destroy you now. and fuck you up. And he went out and fucked And then he kind of went into shock, but I mean, it was fucked up. Are you? Exactly. it wasn't in. He never tapped. Remember, he never tapped. Is that what he said? Well, remember Joe, you know, it was never like fucking clamped in. He never tapped.

39:34 In WC, wasn't it? before Wayne's, I think it was. and he goes, So if you're going to gamble, gamble and chill. He was a bad motherfucker when it came to his jiu-jitsu. It's very rare you see guys who come from pure Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with like Jacare, was it i rather have bibiano in my guard than me being his guard I just learned this and he's like

41:44 that's how Matt trains me he goes okay now I'm going to teach you something else and Matt's like, you like to posture up, punch them in the face, pass guard. And I was like, yes, that's how I've been trained. That's how Matt trains me. You need to get in there work it god and then they don't have those cuffs and they they become like a blue belt. It's crazy to see a high-level black belt that never trains no-gi,

43:05 here to go to dars to um crucifix on your back and then uh from there uh take your back and try like if I was to grapple with you could tell that they're pure jiu-jitsu by the way they set things up? But typically when I'm on my back, I'm doing either two things. doing certain steps where I'm like, okay, this guy, he's, Cook the beans is a great statement.

45:21 You know, you throw the line and you kind of, you know, make the fish take the bait. So that's what kind of reference of like, I'm a big reference of analogies. And I think one of the reasons why he looked like dog shit is that Tyson Fury guy never It could be. We'll see. And he did it. The thing about I think the only time I've ever talked shit And I was like, hmm.

47:56 He said it in the cap down. And no matter how much shit they talk about me, then it doesn't matter to me. It's very rare. the commentator for Okay, Jordan. Here's your contract. Okay, you have a percentage that you can hit sir You're going to get $2 million. You know, they were like, Luke Rockhold, what are the things you see about Chris Weidman? But then again, i could be wrong

50:51 Even the Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather. Because the way boxing is scored. Especially with those big gloves because you can block with the big gloves better. Why am I going to go out there and throw all these punches and nothing, But it was hilarious because you didn't just go, And I'm like, dude, you hit hard, I'm not going to fucking be there. I mean your weight class is correct. This is where you belong. It's like you're fighting perfectly at this weight class

53:08 You're watching a guy fight one of the most athletic one of the most dangerous guys in the fucking in the sport I cannot do it. I mean, he just couldn't find you. We were watching a masterpiece. And I can tell the weird points were, like, when we're training And we know Dotton has the power for one shot. He was in position. the champ, he would be the champ. Yeah, absolutely.

55:30 and how he brings it, I can tell that he would be just like Joseph. No. I think I maybe gave myself an inch. Physically. But once again, you're starting to see him. He was eating pancakes the day before the wins? Why the fuck did Rivera fight like that? Until he got eye poked. I think it was also Nope. Yeah. No, no, no, no, no. Of course you're going to hit fucking hard.

58:09 Oh, yeah. It can be a problem for a lot of guys because as he's moving in, Lewis Gritnot choked him out. I agree. Robbie sort of forced it into a brawl. The second one or the first one? I'm like, dude, what are you doing? either. I guess it was the round before I'm not going to lie. Yeah. I'm going to take shots, get shots, have vertigo. You do it better than I do and you do it better than Brad does.

1:01:30 better yep um the reason why i say that is because this is the first time out of my camps usually i'll okay, let's see what happens. okay I'm fighting a fighting this person I get in there and I'll feel the distance. Oh, this is working. that's what shows you because he goes yes put him in the matrix, your paycheck's less. Does it frustrate you when you look at what you're capable of doing,

1:04:08 world won't even know who I am and I always call myself the redheaded stepchild He has 13 consecutive title events. stuff i'm not here to try to prove that the skill set i bring into octagon is if you're going to go So that's why I want to present. and finished him. You have exciting finishes. like when i come into fights or like so demis johnson um uh uh uh what do you think about this

1:06:23 How you doing, baby? I was like, okay, what's next? It's reality. It's going to happen. I was like, yeah, I did. Exactly. And I think when the highs are very high, the lows, you know, when you don't get those highs, the lows are devastating. And like the, exactly. I was like, honey, let me tell you something. It's a fun show. shouldn't be there yeah

1:09:30 I'm the wrong guy for it. I mean, I guess I kind of am in a way when I do those countdown shows and I hype things up. watch shit and talk about it. you're knowledgeable. It's very hard to find knowledgeable do an amazing job breaking the fight and you're knowledgeable Right. you think Bruce Lee was pushing the, Yeah, exactly. You look fine. You're dealing with the fastest people in all of MMA.

1:12:01 It's like you have to have a fucking just gigantic And he goes, I like to bang that. Whoa, is this my house? I'm not sure. Let me in. When you don't know where your keys are, you don't know who your wife is. Exactly. You might bonus and you got fight of the night they dig up, Did he just throw a fucking armbar? Josh Burnett's coach now. they didn't have you know control of all the uh athletic commission athletic commission and the

1:14:35 There's people that are like, you know, I don't like fine cuisine. I'm like, you, my friend, have shitty taste. Like, if I needed to bang what day is it, babe? can you come wash my ass? I can like, you know, I'm like, babe, can you come wash my ass? And after one of his, I think it was a freaking eager fight. Max Holloway, he lost.'s broken his jaw multiple times Yeah, and after when he's I think was a freaking out of the way

1:16:12 Yeah, I think. I hear people and they start running. The stamina he has to throw so many punches when we spar, it's incredible. I'm already did that sports science like who hits harder, a boxer or an MMA fighter to regenerate from our legs. Hi, I'm your boxing coach. sparring it's harder for me to do it because I can do it and I and I can get the upper edge but

1:18:10 But, I mean, three rounds, I mean, three minute, how many rounds did they go? But it's interesting that they only fight three minutes, and it's not nearly as tiring as MMA. When somebody's idea was like, I need to get fucking hit to be exciting. He had a wild, crazy, exciting career, I think a lot of people are seeing the Ultimate Fighter and they're getting that view of this is what.

1:19:45 We're such deep thought and conversation. I'm not sure that's a word. Okay. Regressing. Is degressing a word? Jimmyegressing? Is that a word? It's going behind. Yes, it's a goddamn word. Regressing. Okay. I understand exactly what you're saying. Okay. and I said, you think people are being on national television two paychecks three three paychecks?

1:21:21 You shouldn't be working. So that's why I was still working, even when I fought Kiyomoto. It was almost like Kiyama Moto. Wow. and now i have my phone on me and matt will call me goes hey the ufc wants to know if you want to He goes, yeah, let me see if I can work it out. every single week it was keeping the lights on fighting was not so that's why i tell kids all

1:23:53 you will fall. Like, let's take a good example. At one point in time in his career, he was up... So basically this guy, he was really good at one point in his career. And he wasn't smart with his money. cruci he was like i think it might be time for you to go to school get an education and I said thing I just didn't like school I believe in I had 15 years as a barista.

1:26:49 He's not making Starbucks coffee. And I believe in that. putting in all that effort without a definite reward I drew up floor plans. Why Chicken Strips? poles right there. Is that its own slaughterhouse No, that was the final. Oh, the patriarchy continues. I see how you work it. You stream your video games, right? on pay-per-view, this comes across or my friend I was like dude I totally understand so that's

1:30:22 There's a lot of people what I understand they could have one person like your job is to make sure before the product goes people are like man you should you should make your shirt you should do this so right i like that shirt is that a mighty mouse shirt this is the first mighty mouse shirt i've and then things went well with Twitch. My Twitch handle is MightyMouseUFC125.

1:32:11 What's your game? It's a Multi Online Battle Arena. I want to watch TV. play video games It is. But this is from the Mighty Squad. You know, I don't like either one. And I think everybody should fight at the weight that they're in perfect shape. makes it stupid because like if you were the only one if you really weighed 175 you were cutting And you have a massive summit, and you

1:34:45 We're going to measure your actual weight. also naturally at that weight class and i assume it'd be everybody in that weight class i assume Apparently he cut out boozing at 93, 194, which is really crazy wrestling because they day. that ass whooped and simple. was no money on the line, if you were still going to get paid, I think they would be more

1:36:59 He looked like a guy who had been on a ship floating in the ocean for a month, just eating And Dana doesn't want to do that. Yeah, that's right. When you have 85 to 205, you've got a fucking problem. or whether you pack it on your body. That's crazy. That's another six. I mean, there's a lot of fucking weight classes in boxing, man. can be a way to cut it out of the sport, but

1:39:10 I'm doing my hydration test. in consideration of uh the holidays but right i like your insight i agree with you all right I like walking away from things. I like to do like, I'll do a weird open mic night in the middle of fucking nowhere. I've been doing the UFC for a long time. I fucking love this. I love it, man. I'm constantly trying to absorb new information.

1:41:45 All right. Third one. What is your favorite memory in the UFC? I don't want to do it as a career sometime in the future. All right. Okay, that's a good-ass answer. All right, third one. It's incredible to go there and watch the all-time Again, I don't think I have one. where it's like your fight against Dodson was like for all the right This is stupid.

1:43:36 Yeah, when Francisco Rivera fought John Lineker and those guys went to a part of me was because I really like Francisco I wanted Yeah, absolutely. But I'm a big fan of loyalty. How do you do this? How do you set things up? and i'm very impressed with his he's completely fucking crazy yeah but in the best way for a trainer because he's obsessed like the day that

1:45:55 He's going to be to the right. And I think that personality-wise, I love him as a person. And I like Dwayah a lot. I think Uriah is awesome. I love him as a person. I don't like that TJ took off, but I don't know the specifics. So I don't, I'm not sure what's going on there. now. I saw that. He just moved the whole family out there. on here? I mean, maybe we're not seeing something.

1:48:10 building this giant fucking for sure I want to do is open up a big gym with guys like Eddie Bravo and get You know, that's one of the hardest things for me is to commentate on people that I like. But I do know her, you know, and I like her a lot. only did i get them tickets i i pulled them from their seats and had them sit behind me in the Yeah. Matt,

1:50:20 Hey guys, That might be right for Ocadero. I'm going to pull the fucking trigger. didn't want to pay as much as shogun wanted for it. So Vanderlei said, if I knock you out, I don't have to pay, but if you knock me out, I'll Yeah. put 110% into me. He's done did it. he saw that if he went with Dwayne Ludwig, was sparring with Joseph Benavidez, sparring with Chad Mendes,

1:52:45 I just don't think fucking, man, whatever reason they couldn't work. How did you get into broadcasting for the UFC? I worked for the UFC in 97. I started working for them, where Tito Ortiz fought Vladimir Matyushenko right after September 11. What about that guy? I'm busy, man. the OCD part, Yeah. I go, I'll do some commentary. So, you know, like Eddie and a couple

1:55:52 You know, it's like, this is great to be able to, because we were always big UFC fans. And the Fertittas, out of nowhere, Love it that you're there. But I never do now. And only a couple times. He goes, I don't know, Joe. Try explaining that to your fucking gardener. Nobody knows what the fuck that means. They should call it Spike TV Mixed Martial Arts. It's like MMA. What is MMA? It's like the UFC. Oh, okay.

1:58:04 I mean, right now, we've got this NFL situation where, like, when you watch football, you really watch the NFL. it's sided more towards the athletes in boxing than it is in MMA. It's a huge success, and they built it to be that giant success. That was a huge fuck-up on their part. ridiculous i just think it doesn't it's so short-sighted and i think their promotion sucked

2:00:13 You've got Rico Verhoeven. profitable television shows so poorly planned When the UFC does it, it's an appetizer. We're doing it all night. And they started going deeper and deeper into the red. is he testing the market for Bellator? really kicked it into gear And it would force everybody to rise up. I think that's a disaster. Yeah. How do you solve this problem?

2:03:04 I've had sweets Well you guys are tired from training Exactly, yeah. problem is, he's got a very Maybe he takes Carlos Condit down. Yes, I understand building him up, rising him to the occasion. He's going to get better. When you come to the UFC, this is a thing here's here's my opinion when you come to the ufc this broke my hand and lost the fight. And was Matt upset? No, he wasn't upset at all. He goes,

2:05:54 That's what I guarantee you. Fuck Rocky Marciano. Unquestionably, Rocky Marciano was one of the greatest boxers of all time. It was a different world back then. Giants back then it was really difficult like when a guy like Jack Johnson came along everybody was like what fuck? Where did we start from? I forget the gentleman's name, but it was a really quick stoppage.

2:08:31 and then, you know, maybe when he's 20, 21, Ronda obviously didn't have that. Let's see what happens. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. I call this to smell my balls. Yeah. I ride your face yeah what are you gonna do try to get me off and i think that's get me off of you i should say You know? Totally agree. That makes more sense. Absolutely. and be like, Crow Cop,

2:11:04 dude, just fucking kick me. I just want to, because that's the thing, I was like, I I met Aldo, I don't speak Portuguese. I was like, dude, just fucking kick me. Did he? He fights a heavyweight. Nope. Yeah. They had a lot of jackass questions, and I'm not about bringing jackass stuff in. But ultimately, it's pro. And it's like, stop talking shit. But I didn't even know you existed until two seconds ago

2:13:39 But what about you, bitch? Absolutely. hoping someone gets Ronda Rousey'd. alleviated of that feeling Go! It's not healthy. and I went to his, I'm here for the long run. knocked him down or hit him when he was down. Like, you know, like Bellator will say the Bellator world title. Sorry, sorry. shits coming up uh next at the Ice House in Pasadena But it's not. bit's about, but goddamn, he's got this bit. I'll say it's about eggs. But it's not.

2:17:48 on Friday night. We'll probably add a because I'm doing this podcast. That's what it there. It's because you go hunting. That's why. No, it's because of doing this podcast. do you think Rana Rousey should do the rematch I really do. to produce hormones, depression, and all the I mean, he's in a mine now. like how she's preparing and she needs to take into consideration all the problems that were

2:20:50 she kicks kind of robotic You know, it's funny. sparring with people that aren't really strikers, is one of the best fucking striking coaches in the Harley Holmes say, there's a couple of times I guess when you heard Holly Holm say, You know what I mean? That's all these fighters do. this is the goal. Yeah, and he was running at 5 o'clock in the morning

2:23:21 He's not getting movie scripts. look at the future is a fucking left high kick. That's the future. she made between $6 and It doesn't mean anything. you want to go buy a laptop. $2,000? $10 million in the bank, Like, ah. What about films, entourage? and recognizable female champion of all time. To spend any time away from that doing some So then you left there dehydrated and emaciated like what happened you open the door yeah you open the door and you let them in and i don't necessarily

2:27:20 She never did Fast and Furious 7. that's been dominant like that, There's no one. But the Roadhouse movie doesn't work anymore. oh, oh, oh. But he goes, You have you've hobbies you have things you like to do do those things yeah concentrate on being the best you can be He's too much. She found someone that had the kind of potential and that had open with all the fighters you know I

2:30:34 But then again, you bring up, you know, open the door, Well, it's because the results inside the octagon are what's most important. Yeah. Yeah, can't wait till the lights go off so we can talk a little bit more behind scenes, dude. showtime things when they get what's his name lafe uh what the fuck's that guy's name the guy was in and I was like, okay, I'm getting a little,

2:32:52 Yeah. And I was like, go on. Where are you, bitch? But then you never – that's the thing. tell you what I bet you wouldn't do any interviews. There was no 135 or 45 or 55. I didn't even know about weight class for the longest time. Exactly. why i think like my outside on like my insight on like i'm either gonna win or lose i think that Yeah, and I think one of the more devastating things about this Reebok situation

2:35:57 fucking real. I'm going to keep it real. There's nothing we can give to you. It was... That would be fucking dope. um you know uh if there's not something coming up that where they can advertise or anything but and snoop around and try to like, hey, hey, hey, hey, you want to sponsor me? I see what you're saying. or a lot of guys have a manager. and I want the best for Matt Hume.

2:38:49 I'd like to see the paycheck for that. He made $140,000 for one of his fights and sponsors. that I don't have to run around and try to finagle with anybody. great and stuff, but I'm making In all honesty, I don't think the UFC knew how much profile of the sport. What's he doing? I just think that it probably should have been investigated a little bit more thoroughly,

2:41:20 He goes, I've been looking all fucking day and I couldn't even find them. He's most likely going to retire anyway, but... I've defended my title seven times. you know, it's No. Could that be it? Jesus. knock guys out at that weight class, And he comes to spar. other poker players so the guy backs out and then we're sparring and Matt was like I tell all my sparring partners before my fights

2:44:24 And I go, wham. And then somebody goes, and somebody goes okay i'm done i gotta take a break wrestling, decides what you do on any given day. Yep. Thursdays I come in and I'm like, I'll come in Monday night. What do you eat? Take it out to the gym. Then I go across the street and get my PCC. pads, and then we'll either do full-time job. Some people are like, I love

2:47:26 When I start making those $2 million or $3 million or $4 million, if I ever make that from fighting, then I won't worry about doing fucking movies. I live, breathe, eat, training. And Wednesday is only a morning session, and Saturday is only a morning session. almost like a recovery day and then on Friday I didn't feel as good because I was still beating

2:49:27 wear headgear when i spar because we were not a big believers of hitting people in the head hard What do you want to talk about? some of my miguel cota rounds i want to hit the bat like a box and he goes no you're good there's Yeah, absolutely. Who do you think it'll be? Four overall? It wasn't the first time he missed weight. down to 135 again then he fought uh should i game or he fought he fought ah chris caruso beat him

2:51:54 Chico was a good fucking fight, man. I was like, probably, because my fighting style is totally different from Chico Camus. So if I get taken down, I'm like, ah, I got taken down. orthodox. Here's this, this. That takedown means nothing. It's just the way that I see, I view fighting from the judges to where the judges are like. You can't wait. and after my broken hand healed and he went over the fight,

2:54:42 gym i'll come in he would just beat he'll beat me up he would like dude we're gonna spar and we were sparring he would He goes I need to break you back that and let you know you don't know shit about fight dude I'm like, nah, I should have fucking finished him. And I'm just like, fucking fight was shitty. And Matt knows how hard I train. But that's how it is.

2:56:55 fight but why the fuck are you guys showing dots and drop me three times he goes dude we need to physically. Well, I'm trying. but we had uh jeff novitsky and we went over the list oh of all the stuff that's that they sell at Yeah. From food. days so now i'm like when it comes to fight time i actually learn more when i'm getting for my And I'm like, well, I'm not at home getting fat.

2:59:50 The call might come and I'm like, I don't want to fight there or this or that. Vegas, Vegas, Vegas. It's on record, ladies and gentlemen. I've trained it Next time when you're about to fight Mighty Mouse UFC 125 on Twitch That's my... All right, folks, we'll be back tomorrow with Bert Kreischer.