Jason Burgos
If not for his lawyer giving him a call, former UFC heavyweight veteran Brendan Schaub would have completely forgotten about the big payday coming his way from a recently settled antitrust lawsuit.
“Daddy’s getting a check from the UFC,” he said recently on his podcast. “The lawyer called me and he’s like, ‘You’re on the list.’ I was on it so long ago I forgot about it. He goes, ‘They settled.’ I go, ‘Congrats. What do I get the money in 10 years when I’m f***ing old and gray?’ He goes, ‘No, July.’ Say what? ‘What years is it?’ It’s 2013 to 2018. I’m like, ‘That’s my entire career.’ He goes, ‘Yeah, you’ve got a pretty good check coming, bud.'”
The suit was filed in 2014 and involved over 1,000 fighters. The suit alleged that the company exploited its power in the industry. By holding down fighter wages, and using restrictive contracts and anticompetitive practices to limit their fighters’ bargaining power.
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The suit was officially settled in February. And will see the UFC fork over $375 million that will be split among the fighters in the suit. Schaub revealed that if he had not been contacted and did not remember to ask for his cut from the settlement, it would have been dispersed to the other fighters involved.
There are many athletes involved in the suit who desperately need the money to cover various life expenses. Including medical bills related to the damage incurred during their careers. Fortunately for Schaub, he is on solid financial footing in his post-UFC life.
After leaving the sport in 2014 following a pair of losses, Schaub eventually transitioned to podcasting. And he has carved out a solid living for himself via his Thiccc Boy YouTube channel. “Big Brown” posted a 10-5 overall record in MMA. And went 6-5 inside the Octagon after being a cast member on Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter.
