UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub (rather predictably) was unable to get a win vs. Travis Browne at UFC 181 on Saturday. Schaub was dropped with an uppercut and then repeatedly punched on the ground until the fight was called with 10 seconds left in the 1st. It was Schaub’s 4th loss by KO/TKO dating back to his TUF 10 loss to Roy Nelson in 2009, and it dropped him to 2-4 in his last 6 fights. Not even 48 hours removed from his latest defeat, Schaub experienced an “intervention” of sorts by none other than UFC analyst Joe Rogan.
Schaub has become a frequent guest on Rogan’s podcasts, and regularly “commentating” on smaller UFC shows that Rogan isn’t working on-site. Rogan has also been a frequent guest on Schaub’s “The Fighter and the Kid” podcast. When he appeared on Monday’s episode, Rogan provided a serious critique of Brendan Schaub as a fighter right to his face, discussing his skill level, his propensity for knockout losses, and the level of brain damage he’s received. Here’s a brief recap of some of the quotes from the lengthy and generally one-sided talk between Rogan and Schaub:
“You are a smart dude. You know about concussions you have had. The reality is, I don’t see you beating elite guys. You have no fluidity”
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 8, 2014
“When I look at the performances, you are not an elite fighter. I know what I am seeing. You are not recognizing.” Schaub listening quietly.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Schaub says “I beat Cro-Cop”. Rogan dismisses it. “Are you comfortable getting knocked out 3-4 times in the next few years”
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 8, 2014
“You are not fighting at that level. You are going to get fucking hit man. I worry. You leave more openings, you have vulnerabilities.”
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
“15 minutes with an elite fighter. You can’t do that. Your brain doesn’t get better from punches. Werdum, Cain is another level than you.”
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Rogan to Schaub: “You telegraph too much. It is real obvious what you are going to do. You are predictable. Arlovski was a terrible fight”.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Rogan: “Reality of brain damage is that it doesn’t heal.” Schaub still totally silent. Obviously wasn’t expecting career intervention today.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Rogan: “The brain is a motherfucker. Shit doesn’t heal.” Rogan asks Schaub if he knows the ex boxing champ, Terry Norris. Ouch.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Rogan to Schaub: “You are a funny dude. You don’t have to go out like that. If you keep going, it’s not good.”
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Schaub finally musters up: “Thank you guys”. He is staring long at Rogan. Contemplating the ether job that just took place. He is sad now.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Whether or not you agree with Rogan’s decision to be publicly upfront with Schaub about his career, concern for his health, and his future prospects in the sport, this is a side of Rogan we virtually never see when he’s on a live UFC broadcast. Perhaps it’s due to his personal relationship with Schaub, but that’s about the heaviest set of criticisms I can ever recall out of him, and it’s certainly a bit unexpected to me. It will be interesting to see what Schaub does next, because today he was just about stunned to the point of silence.
UPDATE: The podcast is still going on as of 8:22 PM ET, and they returned to this topic with another back-and-forth exchange.
Rogan now telling audience the podcast was Schaub’s idea. “You wanted to do this, did you think I wouldn’t be honest? LIVE was not my idea”.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Schaub: “99% of fighters don’t have a plan. My plan was beat Travis and talk my way to a title fight, or at least eliminator”
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Rogan: “what holes do you see in your game?” Schaub: “I disagree with you when you say I can’t beat Dos Santos or Cain”. Whoa.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Schaub: “Joe, I got fucking rocked!” Rogan: “Then it’s good Yamasaki stopped it” Schaub: “Not when I am looking at him, talking to him”.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Schaub: “Joe, I got fucking rocked!” Rogan: “Then it’s good Yamasaki stopped it” Schaub: “Not when I am looking at him, talking to him”.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Rogan: “If you fight again, I might just take the day off”. Joking with Schaub that he wants him to retire and won’t call his fights.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
Rogan: “There is no other way. You can’t dance around it. This is the reality. I have seen too many fighters slurring with their words”.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014
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