UFC commentator Joe Rogan is an eccentric personality. While Rogan does not like to share too much about his personal life, fans have gotten to know him through his “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. JRE is currently the biggest podcast in the world and he regularly secures some of the biggest names on the planet for his podcast. But, not just celebrities like Elon Musk, Rogan also invites fighters on the podcast as well.
In February 2020, former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans appeared on JRE MMA Show #90. While the two spoke about various topics, they also addressed something interesting. Although Rashad’s last UFC fight came in June 2018, fans may remember one of his quirks before the start of his bouts. As he was being introduced to the crowd, Rashad used to look into the camera and twist his nipples.
So why did Evans feel the need to do something like that? Did it help him to focus on the fight more? His answer may shock some readers. So what did he say? Let’s find out.
Rashad Evans reveals the real reason behind twisting nipples to Joe Rogan
During his prime, Rashad Evans was one of the best fighters in the UFC. He holds wins over legendary figures like Stephan Bonnar, Chuck Liddell, Chael Sonnen, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. While one needs to be in the best physical shape possible for a fight, the fighters have to be in a healthy place mentally as well. During his 2020 appearance on the JRE podcast, Rashad spoke about the power of manifestation.
Ahead of the “Rampage” Jackson fight in 2010 at UFC 114, Evans revealed that he was hurt. Hence, he focused on training his mind on how to overcome adversity in the fight. He imagined himself in tough spots and tried to find a solution to it. However, there is a difference between manifestation and execution. Rashad revealed that he was extremely nervous ahead of the fights. But how did he overcome the mental block?
Rashad added, “I’d get so nervous that I’d be like ‘Oh my god! I just don’t wanna freeze out there.’ I just don’t wanna freeze you know. That’s part of the reason why I started twisting my nipples. Like I’d go out there and I’d twist my nipples before the fight and that was just to kind of do something stupid and silly. But then It would allow me to just kind of relax. I’m like I’m not gonna embarrass myself any worse than that.”
But Rashad Evans was not the only fighter to use the technique. As the duo pointed out during the podcast, former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre also did the same during his career.
Different fighters use different methods to cope with pre-fight anxiety. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone famously talked about vomiting before his fight to suppress his pre-fight nerves. But twisting the nipple is certainly an outlandish trick.
What is your thought on the matter? Let us know in the comments down below.