In the brutal sport of MMA, every punch, kick, and submission attempt leaves a lasting mark on your body, and it’s not just about your record books. from aching joints to battered shins to concussions that steal the clarity of your brain, the injuries remain with the fighters for a long time. Yet, many wouldn’t trade the pain for an easier path, valuing their legacy over comfort. However, the question still lingers around: Is such pain worth the shot? UFC color commentator Joe Rogan and actor Mel Gibson in their latest conversation pondered upon the topic as they talked about the horrors of the fight.
While having a conversation with the American actor on JRE #2254, Rogan and Gibson delved into the topic of the horrors of fighting. They reflected on what fighters must be feeling as they walked into the arena, facing the immense pressure and anticipation of battle. Gibson emphasized that he generally doesn’t feel anything other than adrenaline in the UFC fights but when he witnessed Brian Ortega getting wrecked at the hands of Alexander Volkanovski, Gibson was anxious as he was worried for ‘T-city’, “Usually, I’m pretty immune to it, but he was in there, and he was fighting against Volkanovski,” said Gibson.
He further added, “It was Brian Ortega, and he was getting his ass handed to him. He almost got him a couple of times, but because I knew Brian, it was like my son was in there. I almost started crying, and it got to me. Like, I should probably feel the same about all these guys, but I don’t know them.” For the unversed, Volkanovski battered Ortega to defend his featherweight title at UFC 266. The submission specialist suffered multiple damages on his body after he went toe-to-toe against ‘Volk’.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
View this post on Instagram A post shared by cosmikmma (@cosmikmma)
After hearing Gibson’s analogy, Rogan chimed in, emphasizing that the fight business is a daunting one, requiring the heart of a lion to step into it, rise above the injuries, and persevere. “It becomes a problem for me when I was with the guys, and also when I see them all on the tail end of their careers, and they can’t take shots anymore. Then, when you talk to them, you recognize their speech patterns are slurring.” It’s sometimes difficult for the podcaster to shed reality on some fighters as he considers everyone to be close to him.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
There was a time when Joe Rogan had to drop the reality on Brendan Schuab when he asserted that he could defeat Cain Velasquez. The podcaster told Schaub that he didn’t have the skills to compete with the best heavyweights in the world. UFC fighters do know their limitations but sometimes they go beyond them which in turn makes it harsh for them to return to their original state. Following this thought process, Rogan believes that one UFC legend should leave the game in 2025.
Joe Rogan believes that Jon Jones will retire from the sport this year
Jon Jones defeated Stipe Miocic to successfully defend his heavyweight title at UFC 309. After his victory, the MMA community now wants him to fight against the number one contender and interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall in 2025. And the UFC is trying its best to make that fight happen. Well, even if the fight materializes, Joe Rogan believes that it would be better for Jon Jones to retire from the sport.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
While having a conversation with Theo Von on #2253, Joe Rogan emphasized that Jones has achieved everything and it is better for him to retire, “Well, apparently Jon is thinking about retiring. And he should. I mean, he’s going to have to someday. I’m not saying he should retire, I’m saying he should think about it. Give the man all the time he wants and he can fight whenever he wants to fight. That’s Jon Jones, he’s the GOAT. So leave him alone.”
Rogan further added that Jones might take some time before he comes back to the Octagon and the UFC should give him ample time to think about his clash against Tom Aspinall. It must be noted that White promised the MMA community that he would make the heavyweight clash this year but we have to wait till the conclusion of the year to see it happen. Regardless, what’s your take on the hubbub? State your thoughts in the comments below.
“I Feel Sorry for Them” – Mel Gibson Confesses His Opinion on UFC Fights to Joe Rogan
