🎙️ Jay Rod was removed from B-Team. The community response was just as revealing as the offense.

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan, Jesse Walker, and Jeff Shaw dissect the fallout from the Jiu-Jitsu world after Jacob “Jay Rod” Rodriguez was kicked out of B-Team following revelations of inappropriate behavior. While the gym acted swiftly and decisively, parts of the community rushed to defend him—and that’s where the real conversation begins.

This isn’t about legal definitions or criminal charges. It’s about what kind of culture we’re building on the mats—and why so many in Jiu-Jitsu still treat predatory behavior with a shrug, if not outright support.

The team breaks down the incident, the excuses, and what it says about power, values, and safety in martial arts spaces.

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👥 Featuring:

Jeff Shaw ‪@BellinghamBJJ‬
Jesse Walker ‪@RoughHandsBJJ‬
Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why B-Team made the right call
• The myth of “he didn’t break the law”
• How power dynamics warp gym culture
• Why community pushback matters more than you think
• The real cost of prioritizing athletes over safety

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Community Reaction to Jay Rod's Removal
02:48 Understanding Inappropriate Conduct in Jiu-Jitsu
06:07 The Impact of Power Dynamics in Gyms
08:55 Moral Standards vs. Legal Standards
11:42 Consequences and Redemption in the Jiu-Jitsu Community
14:50 The Path Forward for Jay Rod

Historian Daniele Bolelli joins us to define fascism and authoritarianism, break down the historical context of fascism, and explain the alliance between oligarchs and fascist governments, the role of fear and propaganda, and the potential role of martial arts in combatting authoritarianism.

Catch Daniele's excellent History on Fire podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts or check out his site: https://historyonfirepodcast.com/

Follow him on Substack: https://danielebolelli.substack.com/

And check out his book, On the Warrior's Path: https://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Path-Second-Philosophy-Mythology/dp/158394219X

🎙️ The UFC has become more than a fight promotion—it’s a political statement.

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Jeff Shaw, Stephan Kesting, and Steve Kwan sit down with journalist Albert Samaha to unpack his explosive Washington Post article, “Two Nights in Vegas with the Fan-Bros of the UFC.” What begins as a story about fandom becomes a deep dive into the cultural and political forces shaping fight sports today.

From MAGA hat sightings to Dana White’s unwavering support for Trump, the crew explores how the UFC became a haven for right-wing ideology—and what that means for the young men growing up in its orbit.

This conversation isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about understanding how power, masculinity, and media converge in the cage—and what kind of future we’re fighting for.

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👥 Featuring:

Albert Samaha – Journalist & Author
Jeff Shaw ‪@BellinghamBJJ‬
Stephan Kesting ‪@StephanKesting‬
Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why the UFC embraced Trumpism
• The blurred lines between sport, spectacle, and propaganda
• How fight sports influence young men’s identities
• The grifter economy and “hustle culture” in MMA
• What responsibility promoters have in shaping culture

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Conversation
02:55 The Intersection of Sports and Politics
06:17 Understanding the UFC Fanbase
09:14 The Role of Authenticity in Politics
12:04 Masculinity and the Appeal of Simplicity
14:56 The Complexity of Political Messaging
17:54 The Andrew Tate Phenomenon
21:07 Human Stories in Fight Sports
24:12 The UFC's Political Landscape
27:13 Conclusion and Reflections on the Future
33:25 UFC's Controversial Support for Problematic Figures
36:08 The Shift in UFC's Image and Strategy
40:21 The Wrestling Influence on UFC's Marketing
44:36 Free Speech and the UFC's Ethical Dilemmas
47:13 Economic Class and Masculinity in the UFC
01:01:47 Navigating Modern Masculinity and Influencer Culture