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“He Had a Bucket, Like a Thing to P**s in”: 49-Year Old Ex-UFC Champ’s Shocking Living Conditions Before Major Career Breakthrough Leaves Joe Rogan Dazed

Published 07/06/2023, 7:43 AM EDT

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On the latest episode of the JRE podcast, host Joe Rogan welcomed legendary MMA fighters turned coaches, Matt Serra and Din Thomas, along with BJJ coach John Rallo. The podcast covered a range of topics, including Serra and Thomas’s careers and some intriguing stories from their early days in MMA. One standout moment from the conversation was when Serra shared his living conditions when he had just started his first academy.

This revelation caught the attention of Joe Rogan, who drew parallels between Serra’s lifestyle and that of ancient warriors. It’s no wonder, considering the monumental upset Serra pulled off against one of the greatest of all time in MMA.

Joe Rogan expressed amazement at Matt Serra’s living conditions at the start of his MMA career

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During the discussion in the JRE MMA Show #142, Serra recounted the encounter of meeting Joe Rogan and Eddie Bravo when they visited his hometown. Serra lived in his first storefront academy in East Meadow, and he said, ” I was 28, you know why I remember, because I was gonna fight BJ Penn at Mohican Sun. And you came and trained at my place, and I showed you the basement…”

The encounter took place 21 years ago. Rogan was impressed by Serra’s living conditions, describing it as “Dude, you live like a f**ng Spartan.”

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Rogan also recounted a story about Serra sleeping in his Dojo and having a bucket next to his bed to urinate in because he didn’t want to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. He revealed, “You said (Serra), “I’m tired, I don’t wanna get up and go to the bathroom to p**s, I’d just p**s right here and go back to sleep”. Rogan believed that such dedication and sacrifice were necessary for anyone aiming to become an elite MMA fighter.

Matt Serra pulled off one of the greatest upsets ever in UFC history

Serra’s most notable achievement in MMA came at UFC 69 in 2007. He caused one of the greatest upsets in the sport’s history. He faced off against Georges St-Pierre, who was heavily favored.

via Getty

The reigning champion, St. Pierre, had the opportunity to make his first title defense following his remarkable victory over Matt Hughes. However, Serra, who earned the title shot by winning The Ultimate Fighter 4 finale, shocked the world by landing a powerful right hand on St. Pierre in the final two minutes of the first round.

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“The UFC Did Not Have My Back”: Georges St-Pierre Reveals Disturbing Behind the Scenes Events That Pushed Him to an Early Retirement

Serra’s relentless attack forced the referee to intervene, resulting in a TKO victory and crowning Serra as the new welterweight champion.

Although Serra eventually lost the rematch against St. Pierre, his knockout victory secured his place in MMA history. The MMA community widely regards the victory over St. Pierre as one of the sport’s greatest upsets, showcasing the unpredictable nature of MMA. Serra’s triumph serves as a reminder that anything can happen inside the Octagon.

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We would love to hear your thoughts on the greatest upsets in MMA history. Share your contenders and opinions in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Dushyant Patni

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Dushyant Patni is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. He fell in love with MMA at the tender age of fourteen and his appreciation for the craft has led him to become a practitioner, too. With a master's degree in English and an extensive background as a writer and editor, he uses his technical ability to articulate the nuances of the sport.
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Edited by:

Rohini Kottu