Brendan Schaub criticized Renato Moicano after the UFC lightweight declined his share of money from the UFC’s antitrust lawsuit settlement. Although the Brazilian qualified for compensation under the terms of the $375 million settlement, he turned it down.
The lawsuit, led by former UFC fighters like Cung Le, accused the UFC of monopolizing the sport. They argued the promotion hurt the fighters’ ability to earn money elsewhere and other career opportunities.
Moicano could have received a $200,000 payout, which applied to fighters who competed in the UFC between 2010 and 2017.
In a recent episode of The Brendan Schaub Show, Schaub addressed Moicano specifically and didn’t hold back. He blasted the UFC lightweight for his blind loyalty to the promotion.
“There’s guys that are more famous than you, that are fighting right now, that are taking their settlement,” Schaub said. “[Moicano] 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 [expletive] man by not taking this money that he’s earned.”
The former TUF runner-up also questioned Moicano’s priorities and responsibilities, especially with a growing family to his family. He also provided a reality-check in terms of his current status in the UFC’s lightweight rankings.
“You will never make more than when you fought [Makhachev]…Your wife’s [expletive] pregnant, you have a [expletive] young kid, you’re never going to be champion, and you want to give up $200,000.”
Brendan Schaub Claims Dana White Wouldn’t Care if Renato Moicano Had Accepted
Schaub argued that UFC CEO Dana White wouldn’t care if Moicano accepted the money. He said fighters show loyalty to a company that views them as replaceable.
To prove his point, Schaub referenced White’s high-stakes gambling habits:
“[White] bets with $200,000 every night like it ain’t [expletive],” Schaub said. “You don’t know the [expletive] world, dude. And you’re in the most [expletive] cutthroat business in the world, and you’re letting it pass you by.”
He also highlighted the UFC’s lack of revenue sharing with the fighters.
“I want you to ask your agent or manager how much of a percentage you’re getting of that billion-dollar [broadcast rights] deal,” Schaub said. “You’re going to receive zero dollars.”
Schaub believes the settlement money was one of the only chances Moicano had to earn back what the promotion withheld. Turning that down, in his view, showed ignorance.
Why did Moicano Refuse the Settlement Money?
Moicano gave his reasoning during an episode of his Show Me The Money podcast. He confirmed he was among a small group of fighters who rejected the settlement money.
“I love the UFC,” Moicano said. “I did not take the money they sent to the fighters [from] the lawsuit.”
Only about three percent of eligible fighters rejected the money, according to Moicano. He said he understood what he signed up for and didn’t believe in suing the UFC after the fact.
“If you like what USA was created, like free market…You have to do your part of the deal.”
He rejected money will now be redistributed among fighters who accepted their share of the settlement.
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