The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka

Episode 231: TJ Dillashaw – On Biohacking, Longevity, Injury Recovery, and Life After UFC

Release Date: December 30, 2025
Guests: Host Gary Brecka & TJ Dillashaw

Episode Overview

This episode features two-time UFC bantamweight world champion TJ Dillashaw discussing his journey through elite athletics, career-defining injuries, the science of longevity, stepping back from fighting, and his new chapter as a supplement entrepreneur. Host Gary Brecka—human biologist and biohacker—dives deep with TJ into the realities of achieving and maintaining world-class performance, the aftermath of a career-ending injury, and the practical lessons learned through a life obsessed with physical peak and recovery.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Building a Champion: The Early Years and Athletic Mindset

• (03:07) TJ shares how sports shaped his sense of identity and purpose, starting wrestling at age 8, following his father's (Hazardous Hal) footsteps, and eventually transitioning from college wrestling to MMA.
  • “Wrestling’s not a very enjoyable sport... it’s this sense of accomplishment and purpose you get.” (TJ, 03:09)
• (05:21) Decision-making around entering MMA: An aggressive style caught the eye of a coach, leading TJ to drop out of grad school to pursue fighting.
• (06:33) Adds color to early UFC days: TJ details how the lower-weight divisions were only adopted as the sport evolved, and how he got on “The Ultimate Fighter” early in his pro career.

2. Identity, Transition, and the Challenges of Retirement

• (07:07) On retirement—and how fighting was his core identity, with little business or outside life beyond MMA.
  • “For it just to be over like that due to injury... was an eye opening experience.” (TJ, 07:08)
• (08:59) TJ reflects on what he wishes he knew during his peak: Overtraining without proper nutrition or recovery, and the lasting impact on his body.

3. The Science of Elite Performance: Biohacking and Training Evolution

Partnering with Sam Calavita (The Training Lab)

• (10:50) In his 30s, TJ overhauls his approach, working with coach Sam Calavita:
  • Periodizing training, incorporating blood, hair, and toxin analysis, and using data (VO2 max, RMR) to optimize performance.
• (14:56) Zone 2 Training and Lactic Thresholds:
  • “By changing your lifestyle... you can change your zones. Zone 2, that low base, is what builds your aerobic engine.” (TJ, 15:04)
• (18:18) The importance of training all energy systems for a well-balanced athlete:
  • “If you want to be a champion, you can’t leave no stone unturned. You got to have all energy systems trained to the best ability.” (TJ, 18:20)

Notable Sports Nutrition & Recovery Insights

• (20:08) The dark side of over-reliance on stimulants (e.g., 5-hour energy shots) and the importance of adrenal health and sleep.
• (21:36) Game-planning in the UFC—having fight strategies disrupted at the last minute, reinforcing the need for mental resilience.
  • “My delusional optimism... utmost belief in myself no matter what. That’s what’s gotten me to the top, but also got me in a lot of trouble.” (TJ, 21:41)

4. Injury, Stem Cells, and Advanced Longevity Tools

• (25:29) Fighting through major injuries—double shoulder tears, blown out shoulders, and bulging lumbar discs.
• (29:08) Early adoption of stem cell therapy to stave off surgery (Neil Riordan’s Panama Institute and later, BioXcellerator in Colombia):
  • “BioXcellerator held me together in multiple facets...my shoulders, my L4-L5 disc, arthritis.” (TJ, 30:04)
• (31:42) Unexpected longevity/outcomes: Stem cell IVs improved his psoriasis and had systemic anti-inflammatory effects.

5. Dealing with Suspension: Accountability and Climbing Back

• (35:28) Honest discussion of PED suspension for using EPO to cope with anemia while cutting weight—taking full responsibility and reflecting on the emotional toll.
  • “Everything I had accomplished in the past...the worst part isn’t the suspension, but that everyone thinks the years beforehand got you there.” (TJ, 37:14)
• (39:29) The process of rebuilding self-confidence and motivation after disciplinary setbacks.
  • “Mental toughness that turned me into a champion got me back into the line.” (TJ, 39:29)
• (40:52) The supporting role of family through adversity, including the sacrifices made by his wife and “Hazardous Hal” (his father).

6. Life After Fighting: Building Wild Society Nutrition

• (43:37) Founding Wild Society Nutrition to “solve the problem” of low-quality supplements marketed to athletes (and himself).
  • “Chasing peak performance and longevity go hand in hand. Treat the body the way it was intended, eat the right foods, supplement the right way, your performance is so much better.” (TJ, 44:02)
• (44:50) Switching to clean supplements after coach Sam flagged his old products: “He made me throw all these away...packed with sucralose and artificial sweeteners.”
• (51:10) Taking a different entrepreneurship route—retail-first with Sprouts, strict ingredient standards, and full third-party testing for transparency, emphasizing trust and efficacy.

Notable Product Highlight

• (46:12) “Caveman Eats” – Bagged, air-dried grass fed ribeye for high protein snacking—developed for both travel and family health (e.g., his 7-year-old son’s nutrition).

7. The Entrepreneur’s Mindset: Parallels to Championship Training

• (55:06) The grind of running a business versus fighting:
  • “I would love to go back and kick people in the head again. It was way easier than...running your own business.” (TJ, 55:20)
• (56:28) Lessons for his son and aspiring entrepreneurs—“You’re never going to own this business. It’s always going to own you.”

8. Looking Forward: Documentary, Legacy, and Retrospective

• (57:11) Dana White producing a post-fighting documentary on TJ — following his journey into entrepreneurship, product development, and translating the “savagery” of the cage to the supplement industry.
  • “I’m going to turn the supplement industry upside down. That same savage I was in the cage is the same savage I am outside the cage.” (TJ, 58:14)
• (62:09) Plans for Wild Society Nutrition’s retail expansion (Whole Foods, GNC), and a particular emphasis on educating the public about clean nutrition.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Longevity:
  “Chasing peak performance and longevity go hand in hand. If you treat the body the way it was intended...your performance is so much better.” (TJ, 44:02)
• On Overcoming Failure:
  “I feel like just admitting to it was the best way to get it out.” (TJ on failing the PED test, 36:55)
• On Resilience:
  “Mental toughness that turned me into a champion got me back into the line.” (TJ, 39:29)
• On Entrepreneurship:
  “I would love to go back and kick people in the head again. It was way easier than it is running your own business.” (TJ, 55:20)
• On Identity and Family:
  “My wife, she’s always been a rock...she knew that was never a question if I was going back.” (TJ, 40:52)
• On Supplement Industry:
  “Especially in the supplement industry, you could be building this product in your garage and selling it. The way that it’s not regulated is insane.” (TJ, 50:03)

Timestamps for Critical Segments

• [03:07] – TJ’s childhood, identity as a wrestler, early athletic drive
• [08:59] – Looking back on career mistakes: overwork, lack of proper recovery
• [10:50] – The breakthrough with Sam Calavita: data-driven personalized training
• [14:56] – Explanation of Zone 2, fat-burning, lactic thresholds in elite performance
• [18:20] – “You can’t leave no stone unturned” for champions
• [25:29/29:08/30:04] – Wrestling injuries, stem cell therapies, and returns to the octagon
• [31:42] – Systemic effects of stem cells (psoriasis, inflammation)
• [35:28] – PED suspension: rationale, aftermath, and public fallout
• [43:37/44:50] – Launching Wild Society Nutrition, commitment to clean supplements
• [54:49] – “Snacking” on exercise; staying active post-retirement
• [57:11] – Partnership with Dana White for legacy documentary
• [63:22] – What does it mean to be an “Ultimate Human”?
  • “It’s the pursuit of excellence, mentally, spiritually, and physically...I need a sense of purpose.”

Final Reflection

TJ Dillashaw’s story is one of relentless self-improvement, vulnerability, and adaptation—from the wrestling mat through championship octagons, to the rapidly evolving world of health and wellness entrepreneurship. His journey is filled with both cautionary lessons and inspiration on how to translate peak athleticism into lifelong vitality and business success.

Episode closes with mutual respect and gratitude, and an affirmation of the Ultimate Human mission: continuing the pursuit of excellence across all domains of life.