JRE MMA Show #177 - Protect Ya Neck
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Tommy Lee seriously sought a UFC fight against Kid Rock over Pam Anderson.
- ❖MMA's 10-point scoring system is criticized for not adequately reflecting fight dominance.
- ❖Mandatory steel cups and allowing knees to downed opponents are proposed rule changes for MMA.
- ❖Netflix's investment in MMA is seen as a potential game-changer for fighter earnings and negotiation power.
- ❖BJ Penn in his prime is considered one of the greatest lightweight fighters ever, possessing incredible flexibility and conditioning.
- ❖George St-Pierre's greatness is often overlooked by new fans due to the rapid turnover of MMA stars.
- ❖The new 'Night of the Seven Kingdoms' series is praised for its traditional heroic narrative, contrasting with perceived 'woke' trends in modern media.
- ❖VR first-person shooters like 'Forefront' offer an immersive, addictive gaming experience.
- ❖Arman Tsarukyan is identified as an underrated, highly skilled wrestler with potential for a title shot.
- ❖The upcoming White House MMA card raises concerns about fighting conditions (heat, humidity, bugs) in an outdoor environment.
Insights
1Tommy Lee's Failed UFC Fight Against Kid Rock
Years ago, Tommy Lee wanted to fight Kid Rock in the UFC due to their shared history with Pam Anderson and an altercation at the MTV Awards. Matt Serra was approached to train Tommy Lee, and Joe Rogan was consulted about the idea. Kid Rock's management reportedly declined the pay-per-view fight, citing that the loser's 'rock and roll tough guy' image would be ruined for life.
Ro calls me up and he says, 'Tommy Lee wants to meet you. He wants to talk to you about something.' ... Tommy wants to fight Kid Rock in the UFC. ... Kid Rock's people wound up calling back and basically turning it down saying whoever loses is ruined for, you know, for life.
2Critique of MMA's Scoring System and Proposed Rule Changes
The current 10-point scoring system, borrowed from boxing, is deemed inadequate for MMA. Judges are not liberal enough with 10-8 or 10-7 rounds, failing to reflect significant dominance. Proposed changes include a 100-point system to account for submission attempts, takedowns, aggression, and defense. Additionally, allowing knees to downed opponents and making steel cups mandatory are suggested to align rules more with real-life fighting scenarios and fighter safety.
The scoring system sucks because we stole it from boxing. It's not it doesn't have enough points... You should be counting in submission attempts. You should be counting in takedown attempts... You should have like a 100 points to work with. ... I kind of think if you can't kick a guy in the side of the knee for that reason, why should you be able to [kick to the knee]? If you can kick in the knees, you should be able to kick in the nuts. ... I think maybe the UFC should make that mandatory [steel cups].
3Netflix's Impact on Fighter Compensation and Industry Dynamics
Netflix's entry into MMA, featuring high-profile fights like Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou, is viewed as a positive disruption. The platform's subscription model allows for substantial fighter payouts, potentially forcing traditional promotions like the UFC to increase their offers. This new revenue stream empowers fighters, especially those at the end of their contracts, to seek better deals.
It's exciting though that that Netflix is doing it. ... Netflix has an insane amount of money and they keep raking it in. ... It would seem like they're going to lose their ass, but they're not because they have a completely different business model. ... This is a thing where if a fighter is in contract negotiations... Netflix is calling.
4The Dominance and Legacy of BJ Penn and George St-Pierre
BJ Penn in his prime is hailed as the greatest 155-pound fighter of all time, known for his incredible flexibility, leg dexterity, and well-rounded skills. His peak conditioning under the Marinovich camps made him unstoppable. George St-Pierre is recognized as one of the greatest fighters ever, excelling in combining grappling and striking with an exceptional gas tank and creative takedowns. New fans, however, often fail to appreciate his historical dominance.
Watch BJ in his prime. I'll put that dude up against anybody. ... He was a human Wolverine. ... George St. Pierre was the [expletive] greatest of all time. ... Incredible gas tank. Great flow between grappling and striking. You very creative.
5The Rise of Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan
Ilia Topuria is described as being on 'another level' with super well-rounded skills, and his potential fight against Islam Makhachev is anticipated as a clash of two of the best skilled fighters of all time. Arman Tsarukyan is highlighted as an underrated wrestler with incredible flexibility and technical striking, who could already be a two-time champion if not for external issues and bad luck.
Ilia. He's on another level. ... If a fight between like Ilia and Islam were to happen, like think about like the magnitude of that of like not only just like star power, but just in terms of skill. ... Armen should be spoken about too. ... He's hard to hit. He's very slick and technical. Super flexible.
Bottom Line
The UFC is missing a significant market opportunity by not creating a 'UFC Striking' league with MMA gloves, as kickboxing is more brutal and exciting than boxing and would appeal to fans who boo ground fights.
This untapped market could generate substantial revenue and attract a new audience segment, similar to how UFC BJJ has expanded the grappling scene.
Develop a dedicated striking league within the UFC or as a spin-off, focusing on Muay Thai rules with MMA gloves to capitalize on the excitement of stand-up fighting.
The 'Night of the Seven Kingdoms' series is a refreshing return to traditional heroic narratives, contrasting sharply with perceived 'woke' and 'message-driven' content in other modern fantasy adaptations like 'House of the Dragon' and Amazon's 'Rings of Power'.
This suggests a demand for classic storytelling with clear heroes and villains, indicating a potential market fatigue with overly diverse or politically charged narratives in entertainment.
Content creators should consider focusing on well-crafted, character-driven narratives that prioritize universal themes and strong character arcs, rather than solely aiming for 'diverse' or 'message-oriented' content, to appeal to a broad audience seeking traditional escapism.
The upcoming White House MMA card, while a historic event, presents significant environmental challenges (heat, humidity, bugs) that could unfairly impact fighter performance, especially those undergoing severe weight cuts.
These uncontrolled variables could compromise the integrity of world championship fights, potentially leading to suboptimal performances or health risks for athletes.
Future high-stakes combat sports events should prioritize controlled indoor environments to ensure fair competition and fighter safety, even when pursuing unique or high-profile venues.
Opportunities
Mandatory Steel Cups for MMA Fighters
Implement a rule requiring all MMA fighters to wear steel cups during fights. This would eliminate groin shots, protect fighters, and potentially hurt the kicker more than the wearer, making fights fairer and safer.
UFC Striking League (Muay Thai with MMA Gloves)
Create a separate UFC league focused solely on striking, utilizing Muay Thai rules with MMA gloves. This would cater to fans who prefer stand-up action, avoid ground fighting, and tap into the excitement of brutal kickboxing, potentially generating significant revenue.
Advanced VR Boxing/MMA Training System
Develop a VR boxing or MMA game with highly accurate hand tracking, customizable weighted controllers, and omnidirectional treadmills. This system would provide intense, realistic shadow boxing, improve footwork, endurance, and reaction time without the risk of CTE, offering a valuable training tool for fighters.
Lessons
- Advocate for MMA rule changes that prioritize fighter safety and fair competition, such as mandatory steel cups and allowing knees to downed opponents.
- Recognize the evolving landscape of combat sports, where new platforms like Netflix can offer significant financial opportunities for fighters, influencing contract negotiations.
- When consuming entertainment, seek out content that aligns with personal preferences for narrative and character development, rather than solely following mainstream trends or 'message-driven' productions.
Notable Moments
Tommy Lee wanted to fight Kid Rock in the UFC, with Matt Serra as his trainer, following an altercation over Pam Anderson.
This anecdote highlights the early, wild west nature of celebrity involvement in MMA and the potential for high-profile, grudge matches, even if they don't materialize.
Hadriico Gracie's encounter with military authorities near Area 51 after shining a laser pointer at a helicopter, only to be released because one of the pilots was a jiu-jitsu brown belt who trained under his cousin.
This bizarre story illustrates the unexpected connections and 'small world' nature of the jiu-jitsu community, even in high-stakes situations.
Joe Rogan's excitement over new VR first-person shooter games like 'Forefront' and 'Quake 1 VR', describing them as 'straight crack' and a significant time sink.
This reveals a personal, relatable aspect of Rogan's interests outside of MMA, showcasing the immersive and addictive nature of modern VR gaming technology.
Matt Serra recounts a harrowing experience of almost defecating in a taxi on the way to JFK airport due to ulcerative colitis, only to be saved by a sympathetic driver.
This personal, vulnerable anecdote provides a humorous and humanizing moment, highlighting the challenges of living with chronic health conditions and the kindness of strangers.
Quotes
"Whoever loses is ruined for, you know, for life, I guess, cuz looking like a [expletive] cuz they both had the rock and roll tough guy, you know, image thing."
"If you can kick in the knees, you should be able to kick in the nuts."
"Game of Thrones was like a feminist series if you if you really think about it. ... But without any fanfare. Like no bringing it up. No one paid attention to it. But the baddest people on that show were the women."
"You don't have to tie it in [a bow]. Life continues afterwards."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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