[@joerogan] Joe Rogan Experience #2384 - Mark Kerr

Link: https://youtu.be/A0htXxbbq84

Short Summary

This Joe Rogan Experience podcast segment features a discussion about the movie "The Smashing Machine," focusing on the authenticity of its portrayal of the MMA world and Mark Kerr's life. The guest praises Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's acting and embodiment of Kerr, as well as the film's gritty realism and emotional depth, while Kerr discusses the challenges and personal struggles depicted in the film. They discuss the evolution of MMA and its fighters, as well as their challenges of addiction and finding value in their lives beyond the sport.

Key Quotes

Here are 3 quotes from the Joe Rogan podcast transcript that represent significant insights:

1. "I could see my part in it. Like I could see my part, how [ __ ] hard I was on the people around me, you know, how just singularly driven I was to accomplish something at at all cost. And the person that paid it the most was Dawn. She paid a heavy price..."
2. "And in fact in Pride when Enen was on the podcast he told me that in large letters it said we do not test for steroids. Oh my god."
3. "Like that's the thing. That's why there's a thing about like I think I'm lazy and I love him. He's my friends but I think I'm lazy when I when I like watch what he's doing. And then Gogggins is another one."

Detailed Summary

Okay, here's a detailed summary of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast featuring Mark Kerr, broken down into bullet points:

I. Introduction & Initial Impressions of "The Smashing Machine" Movie

• The conversation begins with Rogan and Kerr discussing "The Smashing Machine" movie, based on Kerr's life.
• The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) plays Mark Kerr in the film.
• Mark (and his son) were impressed with The Rock's accurate portrayal, including mannerisms and speech patterns. It was surreal to watch someone embody him so closely.
• Joe Rogan agrees, noting that The Rock gave a fantastic performance. Better than he anticipated.
• Emily Blunt played Dawn (Kerr's ex-wife) and her performance captured the anxiety and intensity of a difficult relationship.

II. The Rock's Dedication to the Role

• Kerr emphasizes that The Rock didn't need to take on such a complex role. He could have continued with blockbuster movies.
• The film gave The Rock an opportunity to showcase a different side of his acting abilities.
• Rogan suggests the role fit him physically and gave him a chance to show he can act on a serious level.
• Kerr explains that he sent props, watches, rings, necklaces, posters, everything he could to the set so they could have authenticity in the movie.

III. Kerr's Personal Reflections & Therapy

• Seeing the finished film in Venice was therapeutic for Kerr.
• It allowed him to see his part in the dynamic with the people around him, and how he was singularly focused.
• He recognized how his ambition affected Dawn. He was selfish and driven, raising people up, yet he was singularly driven.

IV. Early Days of MMA & the UFC

• The conversation shifts to the early days of MMA and the UFC.
• They recall meeting in 1997 and looking at old pictures together.
• In 1997, people were shocked by what Kerr did.
• Rogan remembers doing backstage interviews for the UFC around that time.
• It was a dream for Rogan as a martial artist to see different styles tested.
• Kerr explains his initial belief in the physical advantages of larger, higher-ranked opponents. That thinking changed after his first fights in Brazil.
• Kerr also notes that, early in his career, he still gave too much credit to the idea of "tough" guys.

V. The Importance of Wrestling in MMA

• Wrestling is now a foundational skill in MMA. Wrestling dictates where the fight takes place.
• It allows fighters to control their opponents and the pace of the fight.
• The success of wrestlers in MMA is highlighted.
• Kurt Angle's wrestling ability and cardio is discussed.
• They talk about Russian wrestlers and their ability to sustain flurries.
• Kane Velasquez is highlighted as the perfect combination of elite wrestling, cardio, and MMA skills.

VI. Steroids and TRT

• The conversation moves to steroids in early MMA.
• The importance of size and strength in the early days led many fighters to use steroids, including Vitor Belfort.
• The UFC at that time did not test for steroids.
• Pride openly declared that they didn't test for steroids. They even handed cups to people and said go get someone to piss in it for you.
• They discuss the impact of TRT on Vitor Belfort.

VII. "Foxcatcher" vs. "The Smashing Machine" - Authenticity

• Kerr praises the accuracy of "The Smashing Machine," contrasting it with the inaccuracies in "Foxcatcher" (Mark Schultz).
• Trust was a key element between Kerr and DJ in making this movie.
• The authenticity of the film is highlighted, with real watches, rings, necklaces, posters, etc. used. Kerr’s life was rebuilt authentically.
• Kerr was shocked at his own likeness on The Rock, even down to the cauliflower ear.
• Mark was an important part of MMA history and the movie really honored that.

VIII. Alexander Usyk & Dedication

• They talk about Alexander Usyk's role in the movie and his skills as a boxer. He did a backspin kick even though he’s a boxer.
• Usyk's incredible training regimen before fighting Tyson Fury is mentioned (600 rounds).
• Usyk's genius is noted as well as his dedication.

IX. The Influence of Early Fighters

• Mark and Joe discuss how the first fighters influenced what came after. The early fighters influenced the need to take steroids.
• Joe's last UFC was 15 where Randy Couture beat Vitor Belfort.

X. Chris Campbell

• Campbell was the first NCA champ for Dan Gable.
• He won the world championship in 1981.
• He also won a bronze medal at the Olympics when he was 37 years old.
• Chris really helped him reach a new level and stressed singular devotion to something.

XI. The Greatest of All Time

• The conversation moves to the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
• GSP is one of the top contenders.
• Mighty Mouse, Anderson Silva, and BJ Penn are also in the conversation.

XII. Jon Jones' Talent & Wasted Potential

• They discuss Jon Jones' dominance, despite his personal issues.
• It's a shame that Jones wasted so many fights due to his behavior and wildness.

XIII. "The Smashing Machine" Documentary & Kerr's Struggles

• Rogan praises Kerr for his honesty and vulnerability in "The Smashing Machine" documentary.
• The documentary inadvertently captured Kerr's life falling apart.
• Kerr and the documentary producer (John Greenhole) discuss his vision for the film.
• Kerr was afraid if he had the switch to be really a killer fighter, but quickly learned after one fight.
• Kerr always wanted to take people's will.

XIV. Brazil & Learning to be a Professional

• In Brazil, Kerr learned that what happened in the ring was only in the ring.
• This was the idea to be a professional, even to press conferences.
• The idea was to up the standard for the early UFC.
• This was to create a professional vibe and make more money.

XV. Leaving the UFC for Pride

• Kerr signed a three-fight tournament deal with the UFC.
• The Japanese reached out and wanted to build the organization around Mark.
• He was flown first class, and the hotel was first class.
• He signed a contract with Pride to fight Hoist Gracie, but got sued by the UFC and had to appear in court.
• The Gracie fight didn't happen due to injury.
• Kerr would have made way more money than he did at the UFC.

XVI. Mark's Weight and Realization

• He was at least 80 pounds heavier than his competition.
• Weighed between 280 and 285 with 6% body fat.
• Was brutal to breathe and needed to physically dominate in minutes to get by.
• This really influenced the idea of how he was training and where he needed to be.

XVII. Frank Shamrock & Heart Rate Training

• Morrice Smith had elite cardio because he trained with Frank Shamrock.
• He would run hills and swim.
• He would also train at TR Goodman.

XVIII. Weight Limit in the UFC and Ideal Heavyweight Weight

• Joe and Mark discuss the weirdness of the UFC heavyweight division and weight limits.
• The ideal weight range is 235 and 240.
• 250 would mean he didn't train.
• 230 would mean he over trained.

XIX. Appetite Diminishing and Crashing Hypoglycemic

• Kerr explains how his appetite diminishes before fights due to nerves.
• The morning of the fight a very small window would open up.
• He was crashing hypoglycemic in the final fight, as well as he needed sugar.

XX. Evolution of Training Methods

• Methods have been extremely metamorphosized.
• No sport as a time frame has been.
• There is no such thing as someone able to go full blast for five five-minute rounds.
• They talk about the ground and pound, what the secret sauce was, and how Kerr could beat everyone.

XXI. Dagistan and Kurt's Second Gear

• Talks about how Hamzad took down Drius. This is a great example of how the wrestler could take an elite fighter.
• It had ability to sustain the attacks past the capacity to defend.
• Mark compares the Russian and Dagistani guys to Kurt Angle.
• Kurt trained at a new level and would be able to sustain an attack at a new level. He hit another gear.

XXII. What is Special to Each Fighter?

• Rogan asked what was special about each fighter.
• Morab is a perfect example with insane cardio.
• Everyone then started using steroids to get bigger.
• They thought if the other guy is using them and you’re not, you are going to a gun fight with a knife.
• The conversation moves into how athletes like Goggins are gifted and have a genetic advantage.

XXIII. The Evolution from Bare Knuckle to Elite Athletes

• Rogan makes a statement of what had to be done in order for the sport to grow. This meant bare knuckle, lots of travel, crazy contracts.
• Joe explains how one of his favorite things is to do long form with Dana.
• He states there would be no UFC today without them.
• Joe says Dana is a madman, and has long conversations about each fight with Dana.
• It is a dream to get paid like a professional and not be scraped off of a barstool and thrown into a ring.

XXIV. Fertittas and The Ultimate Fighter

• They needed a billionaire or rich people to invest. Fertittas did.
• They put forty million into the company and then created the ultimate fighter.
• This show changed the game.
• Forest Griffen vs. Stephan Banner was one of the best and they should both get a contract.
• Chuck became the poster boy because he had such crazy eyes and he was a killer.
• The Fertittas offered Joe to fight Pete Wiliams, but it was not worth it because there was a lot more money in Japan at the time.
• He states to take another level to get to a new gear to make this happen and sustain and then the new level comes to place.

XXV. Consistency, TRT and Finding the Right Organization

• Mark found a need for consistency and was eventually given a monthly payment.
• This allowed for a professional, with the only job to be training.
• TRT is like like having a gun with a knife during this time and is a contributing factor of not having what you need.
• If young kids are starting what organization would you recommend? Do you go straight for UFC or go with another organization like PFL?
• The recommendation is to build your foundation in grappling to be able to have skills in the basics and that translates over to other fighting styles.

XXVI. DJ Portraying Him

• Like with the case of Mark being portrayed by DJ in this movie it's the same amount of hours needed to put in the amount of work to get to where needed and is not magic.
• They had to build everything out from nothing like to the foundation like a jump shot then once you are good then put some nuance on it.
• He was locked away for 11 weeks. This brought the reality to the historical fight as well as it pays homage.

XXVII. Raw Egg and Challenges

• Challenges and seeing what else can be done is a great way to test yourself.
• The challenge with working out is there has to be smaller components like getting the win.
• This should apply to every single thing you do in every single aspect of your life.

XXVIII. The Reality of Fighters and Pain

• Many fighters struggle with self medicating, the identity crisis after, and the confusion because there is a problem, but didn't know how to act.
• Alcohol was the only relief that he got through in his head at times.
• He states, it comes to point where I knew there would have to be a new perspective to know what is out there.

XXIX. Perspective

• Joe and Mark state that alternative perspectives are one of the ways to grow.
• They agree, none of this would be possible without opening your mind, meditation, opening that to open spots in the brain, being a scientist, and everything is harmonics vibrations and frequencies, and they know so little.

XXX. Tree Hugger and The Stars

• Hugging trees is a great thing that could be done, as well as the reason why we don't see the stars anymore.
• The term tree hugger, the way that India worshipped cows, as well as the mushrooms that grow in poop is one of the ideas that is shared to keep the world going the way that you are doing.

XXXI. Alex Pereira

• The state how they can't believe Alex P is the scariest looking fighter there is because he is so built, scary, and weirdly strong.
• His hips don't move and the kick that he puts on people.
• They discuss a nerve on the calf and the importance of having that.
• He checks the legs and everything has the ability to get so hurt.

XXXII. Terren Crawford and Shawn

• Talks about all that Shauna has done and it the idea of the faint, to uppercut, then to left hand.
• All lead up to the talk about what it takes to change to be an elite of the elite, including a lot of what people don't see.

XXXIII. Mental Stability and the Price for Fame

• They agree one should get more things from life like what are important to you, what are you building, and is it even fun, also the ability to just be a normal person instead of what people want to see of you?

XXXIV. The Struggle to Change

• The men share their personal feelings of changing what should've been to be better as well as better habits, what has helped, and how they would tell others to get a better handle what can come of something great?

XXXV. Personal and Professional Advice

• They have a quick conversation about Iboggain, as well as what can happen after those experiences to give you a fresh perspective.
• The conversation was the experience that one would get from the life that is coming soon.

Hopefully, this detailed breakdown helps! Let me know if you need any clarification or further details on any specific point.