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Thanks to Joe Rogan’s assistance and his own 11-fight career as a UFC Heavyweight, Brendan Schaub has established himself as one of the more broadcasted voices in MMA. His podcast, “The Fighter And The Kid,” is quite successful, and Schaub has also appeared on Showtime as an analyst and comedian.
What Schaub is not, however, is a scientist or disease researcher. Despite his qualifications falling outside the realm of epidemiology, Schaub has nevertheless repeatedly spoken out about the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing about statistics and generally downplaying the entire thing.
Cases don’t matter only deaths. Figure it the f*ck out or hide in your house while everyone else is back to normal. EDUCATE yourselves and look at the trend of declining deaths. 7000 people die in American every day NOT from corona. There was 600 deaths due to corona https://t.co/biaFWR75Xu
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) June 9, 2020
Nah, I hang around actual statistics too much and not a giant panic bro
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) June 9, 2020
Stats #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/jnVxusMcoS
— Borrachinha Depot (@FullContactMTWF) April 7, 2020
In the clip above, Schaub argues for holding UFC events, “Let’s say all of them got Corona … worst-case scenario, everyone on the card got Corona. 97% chance, they’re going to be fine. Would you bet on that? Look at the chance you getting in a car wreck on the way to work … that’s the way I look at it, just stats. I take my emotions out of it and look at the stats. Yeah, I’d put it on.”
As it turns out, Schaub’s lack of concern for the virus did not keep him safe. Schaub recently admitted that he contracted COVID-19, though he believes himself to be “almost 100%” after a three day battle with the virus.
Well…I got corona. After day three I’m almost back to 100%. Tune into today’s TFATK!
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) July 2, 2020
Will Schaub’s brush with the virus change his perspective? Somehow, I doubt it. However, it should at least be more difficult for Schaub to write it off as a hoax entirely after his own experience.
Insomnia
USADA is everywhere, including Fight Island.
A spokesperson for USADA just confirmed to me that the anti-doping entity “will indeed have DCOs [doping control officers] testing on Fight Island.”@USADA_UFC @TheBodyLockMMA
— Michael Fiedel (@MichaelFiedel) July 2, 2020
There has never been nor will there ever be a bad time for Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit, a fight UFC has been trying to book for ages now.
I’m hearing UFC is trying to book Carlos Condit (@CarlosCondit) vs. Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) again pic.twitter.com/x47ZA4VCcp
— Shakiel Mahjouri (@ThisIsShak) July 2, 2020
Marlon Moraes calls out both Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt:
Trying to imagine what a spectacle this would have been in person is difficult.
99 YEARS AGO TODAY: Jack Dempsey knocks out Georges Carpentier in boxing’s first million $ gate.
91,000 were in attendance at Boyle’s Thirty Acres, NJ pic.twitter.com/t1Q1LILIYR
— Against The Ropes (@ATRboxinguk) July 2, 2020
Francis Ngannou shifts between trying to strike technically (and hitting really hard) and just trying to kill people (and hitting really hard). Either way, don’t let that guy land!
.@KingRyanG compares UFC fighter @FrancisNgannou to Deontay Wilder. (via @ArielHelwani) pic.twitter.com/W6eZblbsJC
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 2, 2020
Breaking down Muay Thai legend John Wayne Parr’s recent surgery and road back to his eventual One Championship debut:
Slips, rips, and KO clips
82 years and a couple weeks because I didn’t see this until today — still very cool! But man, referees really hated brains in the ol’ days.
On eve of WWII, Nazi Germany is threatening the world. The HW Champ is fighting an opponent Hitler says represents his Nation & who has beaten him once. Outdoors Yankee Stadium, the planet watches. 82 yrs. ago today Joe Louis KO’d Max Schmeling. Ali was great, Louis the Greatest. pic.twitter.com/d30mSnfA5i
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) June 22, 2020
Jiri Prochazka vs. Volkan Oezdemir is going to be FIRE!
Jiri Prochazka knocked Radovan Estocin out with a Flying Knee in just 26 seconds of Round 1 at GCF 23 – MMA Cage Fight 2 #UFC251 pic.twitter.com/DbPO9guTLw
— JOhn Jack (@NHB_GIFS) July 1, 2020
This is a better fight scene than any Marvel film.
Random Land
This guy: 1
Potholes: 0
Trust me, I am an engineer
pic.twitter.com/5yrqQ0sEEo— Engineering (@engineeringvids) July 1, 2020
Midnight Music: This week’s “Discover Weekly” cut, courtesy of Kevin Ayers, founding member of English psych rock band The Soft Machine.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.