Joe Rogan Learns About Sean Sharaf Considering Retirement 13 Days After Upsetting Gable Steveson

Sean Sharaf may decide to retire despite only just winning the biggest fight of his MMA career at UFC 331 last month.

Joe Rogan Learns About Sean Sharaf Considering Retirement 13 Days After Upsetting Gable Steveson

Joe Rogan and Sean Sharaf (Image via MMA Mania/The Sportster)

Sean Sharaf earned the biggest MMA win of his career when he sparked Gable Steveson in the first round at UFC 331. When Joe Rogan interviewed him inside the UFC octagon, the military veteran asked for an appearance on the JRE podcast.

Rogan obliged and Sharaf came on JRE MMA Show #186. The duo talked about a multitude of topics, including his upset win over the Olympic gold medalist. Sharaf admitted that he was exhausted from doing interviews after becoming popular following UFC 331.

This led Rogan to talk about getting better as a fighter and one day fight for the title. Sharaf wanted clarification from the UFC commentator. He spoke about his current situation and struggles while pondering retirement.

Everyone’s making it seem like this was just a lucky punch, one shot… Can I beat that? Like, do I… leave the table when you’re up, that’s what they say… On top of that, I got a CT scan saying that I got brain matter. I’m stitched up from head to toe… What am I doing it for? Just for more money? For a belt? Like, what… what am I doing it for?

Sean Sharaf via JRE MMA Show #186

With injuries and health concerns, Joe Rogan understood why the former Marine was considering retirement after the biggest win of his MMA career. Sharaf also spoke about not finding sponsors and lack of coaching staff during the podcast.

If Sharaf decides against retirement, he has a lot of options in the heavyweight division. Before UFC 331, Sharaf roughly had around 29,000 Instagram followers. This has blown up to more than 160,000 after defeating Steveson 13 days ago.

Fans will tune in to see Sharaf fight again after upsetting all odds. The UFC has failed to capitalize on moments in recent times to make a fighter into a star. There is potential with Sharaf. However, it depends on how the promotion will handle his matchmaking moving forward.

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Joe Rogan and Sean Sharaf agree on who the MMA GOAT is

Another aspect of Sharaf vs Steveson at UFC 331 involved Jon Jones. Steveson and Jones have formed a bond of a trainee and a mentor. Jones remains confident about Steveson one day becoming the heavyweight champion.

Joe Rogan and Sean Sharaf praises Jon Jones
Joe Rogan and Sean Sharaf praises Jon Jones (Image via The Independent/Screengrab)

In a shocking twist, Sharaf admitted that Jones was one of his inspirations and used the GOAT candidate’s mind games against Steveson during their fight week. Jones has not commented about that yet.

Nevertheless, Sharaf had only praise for Jones during his JRE podcast appearance. The former Marine revealed that he had a poster of Jones choking out Lyoto Machida in his room. There was mutual agreement between Rogan and Sharaf on Jones being the MMA GOAT.

Meanwhile, Rogan used Jones’ career defining victories to illustrate why the former heavyweight champion is the GOAT.

When you look at what he did to Ciryl Gane, Ciryl Gane is a scary guy — very talented, athletic and dangerous. And Jon Jones just walked in there and finished him like it was nothing. He just took his soul. And it’s not like that just happened overnight. He’s been doing that for his entire career. The finish against Machida is one of the coldest finishes in the history of the sport.

Sean Sharaf via JRE MMA Show #186

Rogan didn’t stop there. He pointed out that Ciryl Gane was now the heavyweight champion after defeating Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. It took Jones less than 3 minutes to submit Gane.

Tom Aspinall and Pereira couldn’t finish Gane as fast as Jones did. To Rogan, this makes Jones a once-in-a-lifetime talent and Sharaf agreed with the take.

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