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Brendan Schaub gives heartfelt explanation of 'Eskimo brothers' post aimed at Dana White

Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub professes no ill will toward Dana White in spite of a scathing social media rebuttal this past week.

On Monday’s episode of his “Below The Belt” podcast, Schaub addressed his clash with the UFC president, explaining why he fired back after his former boss stepped to UFC star Israel Adesanya’s defense by disparaging him on Instagram.

In an impassioned monologue, Schaub pointedly questioned why White felt the need to attack him and directly told White his behavior was “just a deflection” that was “taking away from what you’re trying to do.”

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to achieve,” Schaub said. “You’re wasting your time, though, throwing heat toward me. I’m telling you, you’re wasting your goddamned time.”

Schaub said it took him all of three minutes to write the rebuttal that set the Internet ablaze, prompting former fighters, UFC employees, Reebok executives, and MMA industry vets to reach out in support. Schaub said there was a reason his post struck a nerve.

“Because you motivate by fear,” Schaub said flatly. “It’s not a way to run a business. It’s 2018. You just can’t do that. Why do you think this is getting so many likes? Why do you think this is the topic of all this stuff? Because you’re a (expletive). And no one can say anything, because they’re scared to lose their job.

“I’m not. I need nothing from you. I need no approval, I don’t need promotion, (and) I don’t work for you. I do none of that. I tell you the truth: You’re a (expletive). You’re at the top of the mountain, shouting. But don’t shout negativity. What are you doing? The world’s hard enough. … I will never stand for it.”

White has yet to comment further on his spat with Schaub.

Schaub, who said his issues with White go back years during his period as an active UFC fighter. Since transitioning from the life of a full-time cage fighter to a podcast host and stand-up comedian, he said he’s tried to avoid confrontation with the UFC figurehead.

But Schaub couldn’t stay silent when White called him a “(expletive) tool” and a “MORON” while defending Adesanya, who wrongly accused him of a disparaging comment on his podcast.

Schaub said White’s history of disparaging losing fighters reveals a character flaw that’s out of place in a sucessful business. He cited the promoter’s position on onetime heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou, who went from being a celebrated contender to an overinflated ego that needed reigning in, in White’s estimation.

“He’s notoriously done this for years and years and years where he just talks (expletive) about the guys,” Schaub said. “And they’re not doing well, man. Those guys just lost the biggest fight of their lives. They’re going to have to pay. And they’re not feeling good about themselves, and then the boss, who you’re looking for any amount of approval, and it will go so far. You’re the captain of the ship, when you’re (expletive) on all the employees on the ship, it doesn’t make people feel good. When you try to lead by fear, it doesn’t work, man. It does not work. That’s not the way to go about things. That’s not what leaders do. That’s not what successful people do.

“People go, ‘Oh, Dana’s worth $400 million.’ Yeah, that’s fine. That’s fine. To me, that doesn’t mean you’re successful, or you’re a leader. That doesn’t mean (expletive) to me. There’s a lot of working wheels that go into making that deal happen. It’s not just him getting it done. And what he’s done with the sport is great. He took that torch, ran with it, got it done, sold the company, it’s a major sport now. That’s great, man. And we should tip our hats to him for that.

“But if you think that with the platform I have I’m not going to criticize you for (expletive) on these fighters, man, who don’t have much financially, they don’t have a platform, (and) they have to literally punch other men in the face to make a living. And for you to bring men and women down like that is insane. You’re never going to get a free ride here. Ever. Ever, ever, ever, for as long as I have this microphone in my face, you will always get criticized for that. Always, man. It’s not cool.”

Schaub said White’s behavior has created a work environment just as hostile as the fights that play out inside the the cage. Not only that, he said, but there’s a lack of support for people like him who create a career beyond fighting.

The behavior trickles down to the fighters.

“It’s a crab-like world,” Schaub said. “Everyone’s pulling each other down, trying to get to the top, trying to get to that next Conor McGregor level. And then the biggest, fat (expletive) lobster is at the top – Dana White, pushing you guys down. And for what?”

“Imagine somebody else – the head of a corporation – they’d lose their job. Talk (expletive) to people like that. What the (expletive) are you doing? What are you doing? It makes no sense. It makes zero sense.”

Despite his opinion on White’s behavior, Schaub said he wouldn’t hesitate to mend fences with the promoter. He also said he has no ill will toward Adesanya or any UFC fighter. He urged those who step into the cage to think of themselves as more than simply combatants and said they could share his post-career success if they applied themselves.

“After all that, I still have no hate in my heart. I have zero hate toward Dana White,” Schaub said. “If he called me up right now and went, ‘Hey man, let’s stop this (expletive). Let’s do this.’ Cool, man. I have zero animosity. I don’t have time for hate. I don’t have time to continue to (expletive) come after you on social media.

“You asked for this. That tweet, I wrote that on a plane. It took me three minutes to knock that out. It took me three minutes. I didn’t ask for this. I don’t want this. I don’t need this negativity. I’m too busy. We both made it, man. Everything’s all good.”

As for the future, Schaub said White could easily avoid alienating contractees by simply checking himself – and his ego – before he posted on social media.

But if that doesn’t happen, Schaub said he’ll speak up. He said he follows the advice of a wise man: Sometimes, you’ve got to punch a bully in the mouth.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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