Brendan Schaub blasts ‘brainwashed’ Renato Moicano for not taking UFC antitrust settlement money: ‘It’s so f*cking dumb’

Brendan Schaub is scratching his head with shock and awe that Renato Moicano has publicly elected to not take his share of the UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement.

The UFC lightweight shared on his podcast that he wouldn’t be taking the money, and then further explained why because he “signed a contract” with the UFC, and accepted the terms that come with that. The settlement was for $375 million in a lawsuit brought forth by athletes such as Cung Le and Nate Quarry that covered fighters who competed in the UFC between 2010 and 2017. Over 97 percent of the fighters involved accepted their payout — which averages about $250,000 per person.

Schaub was asked about the situation by his producer on The Schaub Show, and absolutely tore into Moicano’s decision to turn down the money to show loyalty to the UFC.

“Here’s the thing, Moicano, that money is getting allocated no matter what, buddy. No matter what,” Schaub said on his podcast. “You being a company man and not taking it, doesn’t give you an inch of good grace with the UFC. This does not matter. There’s guys that are more famous than you that are fighting right now that are taking their settlement.

“The UFC does not give a f*ck. The UFC made out in spades. They got off so easily. The original lawsuit was for like $1.7 billion, they’re paying out like $400 million — and they’ve already sent that money out. ... That money is getting distributed whether you take it or not. So if you don’t take it, it’s going to other people. ...

“It’s so f*cking dumb to not take the money. It’s so f*cking dumb.”

The money is going to be dispersed to the fighters who agreed to accept it regardless of what that number is, which is something the former UFC heavyweight is sharing with Moicano — and is ultimately language that only nets a bigger check for his bank account.

“He’s just uneducated about the whole situation,” Schaub said. “Hey, it’s better for the rest of us. I get his money now. ... [The UFC] is not going to discipline you for taking the money. Again, it’s better for me if he doesn’t.”

Schaub then heard excerpts from Moicano’s podcast explanation as to why he declined taking the money.

The former Ultimate Fighter finalist has been public about the UFC’s business practices being unfair towards the athletes, and says a big reason why that never changes is because of fighters like Moicano merely accepting the UFC’s way, and nothing else.

“This is how stupid fighters are, they think — and they’re underpaid, and that’s a whole other story — and people are like, ‘I don’t understand why more fighters don’t ask for better pay. This is why,” Schaub explained. “This dude is brainwashed [and] thinks he’s being a company man by not taking the lawsuit money. He thinks that he’s showing loyalty to the f*cking man by not taking this money that he’s earned. That’s how brainwashed a lot of these fighters are. Every single one of you is underpaid.

“Hey, Moicano, let me ask you a quick question... when the UFC signs a billion dollar TV [rights deal]... I want you to ask your agent or manager how much of a percentage you’re getting of that billion dollar deal. Now if you don’t want to ask him, I’ll do you a f*cking solid right now and tell you how much you’re going to get. Zero. You’re going to receive zero of the dollars, sir.”

Moicano is currently on a two-fight skid, which includes a quick submission loss in his first UFC title fight. After Arman Tsarukyan was pulled from the UFC 311 main event the day before the January pay-per-view, Moicano stepped in on short notice and was tapped in the first round by former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev.

“Money” recently competed at UFC 317 in June where he lost a decision to Beneil Dariush. Schaub tells Moicano that he hopes the 19-fight UFC veteran enjoyed his payday for the Makhachev fight, because it’s as good as it will get for him.

“You will never make more money than when you fought Islam for the belt,” Schaub said. “That will never happen to you again. And your wife’s f*cking pregnant, you have a f*cking young kid, you’re never going to be champion, and you want to give up $200,000.

“Just so you know, Moicano, Dana bets with $200,000 every night like it ain’t shit. So if you think, in his mind, he’s going, ‘Well, Moicano didn’t take the money, let’s hook this guy up,’ You don’t know the f*cking world, dude. And you’re in the most f*cking cutthroat business in the world, and you’re letting it pass you by. ... And you think that you’re being a good company man with a company that could give two f*cks about you. It’s mind-blowing.”