Joe Rogan Snubs UFC Champs, Crowns Fedor Emelianenko the Heavyweight GOAT – Explained

Joe Rogan Snubs UFC Champs, Crowns Fedor Emelianenko the Heavyweight GOAT - ExplainedJoe Rogan recently shared his thoughts on the greatest heavyweight MMA athlete of all time, naming Fedor Emelianenko as…

Joe Rogan Snubs UFC Champs, Crowns Fedor Emelianenko the Heavyweight GOAT - Explained

Joe Rogan recently shared his thoughts on the greatest heavyweight MMA athlete of all time, naming Fedor Emelianenko as the top candidate. Emelianenko’s career is widely regarded as one of the most dominant and influential in MMA history. Below, we explore why Rogan and many others consider him the heavyweight GOAT.

Fedor Emelianenko is the Greatest Heavyweight MMA in History

Fedor Emelianenko’s career peaked during his time in PRIDE Fighting Championships, where he remained undefeated across 15 fights. From 2000 to 2010, he went on an astonishing 33-fight unbeaten streak, solidifying his reputation as an unstoppable force in the heavyweight division. His victories spanned multiple organizations, including PRIDE, Affliction, Strikeforce, and Bellator.

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Despite never competing in the UFC, Emelianenko defeated several former UFC champions during his career. His list of conquests includes Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Tim Sylvia, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Frank Mir, and Andrei Arlovski. Additionally, he bested Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, a former PRIDE and interim UFC champion, K-1 Champions Semmy Schilt and Mark Hunt, plus Mirko Cro Cop a PRIDE Grand Prix champion. During Fedor’s reign, the best heavyweights were not competing in the UFC the vast majority were in PRIDE FC during the early 2000s.

Fedor’s fighting style was a blend of aggression and precision. On his feet, he employed powerful flurries combined with speed. His striking often overwhelmed opponents early in fights. On the ground, Fedor showcased exceptional skills derived from his background as a Russian Sambo national champion. He utilized explosive hip throws to take opponents down and relied on a devastating ground-and-pound strategy to finish fights.

Joe Rogan explained:

“I don’t know if anybody beats Fedor in his prime. He was so good. Fedor walked down Cro Cop when he was in his prime. You’ve got to remember most of that fight was standing up and Fedor was going blow to blow with Cro Cop and walking him down. That Randelman armbar, he suplexes him on his head, and five seconds later he’s got him in a kimura, it’s crazy. He was different, he was a monster.”

Fedor Emelianenko’s accolades go beyond MMA. He was a four-time combat sambo world champion and a seven-time national champion in Russia. His dominance helped popularize MMA globally, particularly in Russia and Japan. Joe Rogan’s endorsement only adds to the widespread recognition of ‘The Last Emperor’ as the greatest MMA heavyweight to ever live.

Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev? Joe Rogan Says ‘Let’s Go!’ for UFC Lightweight Title

Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev? Joe Rogan Says ‘Let’s Go!’ for UFC Lightweight TitleJoe Rogan is ready to see Ilia Topuria make the move to 155. 2024 was a banner year for…

Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev? Joe Rogan Says ‘Let’s Go!’ for UFC Lightweight Title

Joe Rogan is ready to see Ilia Topuria make the move to 155.

2024 was a banner year for ‘El Matador.’ After claiming the featherweight title with a stunning second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, Topuria went on to become the first fighter to KO ex-titleholder Max Holloway in October.

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Topuria has not yet booked a return to the Octagon for 2025, but all signs are currently pointing towards a champion vs. champion clash with reigning lightweight king Islam Makhachev.

It would be a pretty bold move considering Topuria only has one successful defense of his 145-pound crown, but that doesn’t really matter to the long-time UFC color commentator.

“I hope Ilia goes up to 55. I really do—to fight Volkanovski,” Rogan said during his UFC 312 fight companion podcast. “Diego Lopes at 45? I’ll take that. If Ilia goes up to 55, sh*t I don’t care if he only defended the title one time or didn’t. Who cares? Let’s go!”

Is Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria the fight to make after UFC 311?

Makhachev just scored his fourth successful defense of the lightweight title last month, landing a quick-fire submission victory over short-notice replacement opponent Renato Moicano at UFC 311 in Los Angeles. The ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ was set to defend his belt against Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch more than five years in the making, but Tsarukyan bowed out of the bout less than 48 hours away from fight night citing a back injury.

However, some believe that Tsarukyan’s withdrawal was due to a botched weight cut and not a legitimate injury.

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Moicano, who was scheduled to compete at the event against Beneil Dariush, was ultimately pulled from his main card bout and thrust into the main event. It only took Makhachev four minutes to catch the Brazilian in a d’arce choke, bringing an abrupt end to their unlikely headliner.

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With Tsarukyan’s title opportunity now on the back burner and Makhachev already defeating three of the top-five ranked contenders in his division, a clash with Topuria makes a lot of sense for the Dagestani.

Joe Rogan Calls For Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev Next, Says ‘Who Cares’ About Only 1 Title Defense

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan knows what he wants to see next from featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria — and it’s not a second dance with Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria remains without a date in the calendar for his first fight of 2025, following on from a 2024 in which he dethroned Volkanovski and became the first […]

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan knows what he wants to see next from featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria — and it’s not a second dance with Alexander Volkanovski.

Topuria remains without a date in the calendar for his first fight of 2025, following on from a 2024 in which he dethroned Volkanovski and became the first man to knock out Max Holloway.

A rematch with “Alexander the Great” was quickly tipped as the Spaniard’s next assignment after he defended the belt against “Blessed” last October. But frequent comments from Topuria and his team regarding a lightweight switch have led to some uncertainty.

Despite only defending his title once, “El Matador” has made no secret of his desire to challenge Islam Makhachev for two-division glory as soon as possible.

And for Rogan, there’s no time like the present.

“As crazy as it sounds, I hope Ilia goes up to (155 pounds). I really do,” Rogan said during his JRE Fight Companion episode for Saturday’s UFC 312 pay-per-view. “Volkanovski-Diego Lopes (at) 145, Ilia goes up to ’55. I don’t care if he only defended the title one time or didn’t, who cares. Let’s go. Let’s f*cking go.

“It’d be nice [to see him fight some of the other contenders at (featherweight), but also, who cares? Let’s go. Let’s f*cking go,” Rogan added.

Plenty is evidently left to be decided at 145 pounds, with various reports flying about Topuria vs. Volkanovski 2 and other potential bouts such as Volkanovski against the charging Diego Lopes.

Makhachev, meanwhile, remains without a next challenger to his throne after top contender Arman Tsarukyan ruled himself out by withdrawing from UFC 311 on 24 hours’ notice.

The promotion is promising something huge for the Dagestani next time out, though, perhaps boosting Topuria’s chances of securing the matchup.

Joe Rogan Reacts To Dricus Du Plessis’ UFC 312 Win Over Sean Strickland: ‘He’s A Tough Puzzle’

While the UFC 312 main event itself didn’t exactly deliver fireworks, color commentator Joe Rogan was extremely impressed by how middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis controlled it. Du Plessis returned to the cage for his first assignment of the new year and second defense of the 185-pound title on Saturday night, headlining the pay-per-view in […]

While the UFC 312 main event itself didn’t exactly deliver fireworks, color commentator Joe Rogan was extremely impressed by how middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis controlled it.

Du Plessis returned to the cage for his first assignment of the new year and second defense of the 185-pound title on Saturday night, headlining the pay-per-view in Sydney, Australia opposite a familiar foe in Sean Strickland.

After narrowly dethroning the polarizing American by way of split decision 13 months ago, the South African champ put a stamp on his superiority over “Tarzan” second time around.

During his JRE Fight Companion episode for UFC 312, Rogan reacted to Du Plessis’ dominant five-round decision victory over the former titleholder, who was left with a badly broken nose.

“DDP fought really well, man,” Rogan said. “It was that big right hand that changed everything. … Dricus Du Plessis, ladies and gentlemen. He’s a tough puzzle to figure out. A very tough fight to figure out.

“He’s a big f***** for 185 pounds too. That’s a big f*****,” Rogan continued. “He did a really good job of setting up, throwing that low kick, switch kick to the body, and kept that pace up for the entire five (rounds). He keeps getting better.”

While Strickland goes back to the drawing board after being pushed out of the title conversation following two defeats to Du Plessis in his last three fights, “Stillknocks” has a ready list of challengers vying for a shot at his gold.

It would appear that the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev is immediately next in line, with the rising Nassourdine Imavov chomping at the bit another step down the middleweight ladder.

What’s the Truth Behind Cold Exposure Therapy? Why It Could Be Sabotaging Your Progress

What’s the Truth Behind Cold Exposure Therapy? Why It Could Be Sabotaging Your ProgressIs cold exposure therapy really that good for you? Also known as cryotherapy, cold exposure therapy is the therapeutic…

What’s the Truth Behind Cold Exposure Therapy? Why It Could Be Sabotaging Your Progress

Is cold exposure therapy really that good for you?

Also known as cryotherapy, cold exposure therapy is the therapeutic practice of exposing your body to cold temperatures to reduce body heat to help with pain and inflammation. Professional athletes also use it as a method of recovery following rigorous workouts, but is it really the way to go?

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According to Dr. Michael Israetel, PhD, otherwise known as Dr. Mike from the YouTube channel Renaissance Periodization believes that cold exposure could actually hinder one’s ability to gain muscle and even raise the risk of injury.

“Cold exposure does very poorly for gains,” Israetel said in a recent video. “If you do it before training, it cools the muscle and connective tissue, making them literally more brittle—in the physics sense, more brittle.

“And if you do it pre-training or somehow in training, like if you’re too cold between sets, there’s a much, much higher injury risk. So, unless you do cold exposure, then rewarm up, and then train—like Joe Rogan does—it’s not a good idea. It is not a good idea to be cold pre- and during training for straight-up injury risk by itself.

“If you are getting cold exposure after training, you are harming yourself—well, not harming, sorry—preventing yourself from getting as jacked as possible.”

Cold exposure therapy can be anything from a cold shower to the use of ice packs, but ice baths seem to be the method that has become increasingly popular in recent years.

YouTube Commenters come to the defense of Cold Exposure Therapy

While most of the commenters on YouTube are not world-class athletes, many of them were quick to defend CET and how something as simple as starting their day with a cold shower has positively impacted their lives.

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“My buddy used cold therapy to help him quite benzos,” one user wrote. “He got me on it and it’s helped me manage my mental health. I’d argue that that’s where the primary benefits of cold plunges lie.”

“Cold ass showers in the winter helped pull me out a a depressive funk and build a meditation habit last year,” another added. “I stand by cold showers as a great way to wake up.”

“Cold plunging first thing in the morning makes the rest of your day great by ensuring it’s not gonna get worse than that,” a third hilariously pointed out.

“I had chronic pain for years which thankfully is well controlled now. Cold showers were a huge analgesic and anti-inflammatory for me. It’s become a trendy thing and is thus overhyped, and some claims are false. But I can say that 100 percent it has a palpable effect on pain and mood.”

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Intent or Impact? Elon Musk’s Gesture Fuels Outrage While Joe Rogan Calls Critics Overreacting

Intent or Impact? Elon Musk's Gesture Fuels Outrage While Joe Rogan Calls Critics 'Overreacting'Tech billionaire Elon Musk has sparked global controversy after making a gesture during an event celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration…

Intent or Impact? Elon Musk's Gesture Fuels Outrage While Joe Rogan Calls Critics 'Overreacting'

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has sparked global controversy after making a gesture during an event celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president on January 20, 2025. The gesture, which involved Musk placing his hand over his heart before extending it forward with his palm down, has drawn comparisons to the Nazi salute used in Germany during Adolf Hitler’s regime.

Joe Rogan and Elon Musk’s Salute

Critics and historians have labeled the act troubling, while Elon Musk and some of his defenders have dismissed the backlash as overblown or politically motivated. Podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan, a longtime friend of Musk and Trump, addressed the controversy on his show, attempting to provide context for what he called a “gaffe.”

“We were talking about the Elon gaffe, where he’s like,” Rogan explained, “‘My heart goes out to you.’ Like, hey, don’t do that, though. That’s a perfect example. If you believe he’s a Nazi, you’re gonna see him do a silly hand gesture and see that as that.” Rogan went on to argue that the gesture may have been misunderstood due to its historical associations.

“This is what I found out last night,” he said. “That’s also how they used to do the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance used to be done like this until the Nazis came along. And then we switched it to this, your hand over your heart. So we cut out that part.”

Elon Musk himself has denied any malicious intent behind the gesture and dismissed accusations as politically motivated attacks. On X (formerly Twitter), he referred to the criticism as “tired political nonsense” and even joked about Nazi-related themes in subsequent posts, further fueling outrage among critics.

The Debate Over Intentions vs. Actions

The controversy surrounding Musk’s gesture highlights an ongoing debate about how actions are interpreted versus the intent behind them. Joe Rogan relies heavily on the idea that Elon Musk’s intentions were benign and that the gesture was either accidental or misinterpreted due to its historical context. However, critics argue that focusing solely on intent ignores the broader implications of actions in public settings.

This line of reasoning raises questions about fallacies often invoked in such debates. Rogan’s argument leans on the intentional fallacy, which assumes that understanding someone’s intent absolves them of responsibility for how their actions are perceived or received. While it may be true that Musk did not intend to mimic a Nazi salute, his actions still carried significant symbolic weight.

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Additionally, Rogan’s talk of historical context introduces another fallacy: appeal to tradition. By pointing out that similar gestures were once part of the Pledge of Allegiance in the USA before being abandoned during World War II, he implies that this historical precedent mitigates any harm caused by Musk’s action today.

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Elon Musk’s gesture comes amid growing concerns about his alignment with far-right ideologies. In recent months, he has publicly supported Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and made comments suggesting Germans should move beyond guilt over their Nazi past. These statements have amplified criticism of his actions and raised questions about his political leanings or are missteps. Public figures like Musk wield significant influence over cultural and political discourse. While defenders like Joe Rogan emphasize Elon Musk’s intentions as harmless, critics argue that public figures must be mindful of how their actions resonate.