Schaub on Bryan Callen Trying to Get Him to Fight Derrick Lewis in Bareknuckle MMA

Who is Schaub on Bryan Callen Trying to Get Him to Fight Derrick Lewis in Bareknuckle MMA?

Taken from JRE Fight Companion - August 5, 2023:

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Bryan Callen was trying to convince Brendan Schaub to fight Derrick Lewis in a bareknuckle MMA match
• 02Schaub discusses why he's not interested in fighting at this stage of his career
• 03The conversation highlights the differences between boxing/MMA careers and comeback fights
• 04Callen's persistent pitch shows the dynamic between the two comedians
• 05Schaub reflects on his fighting past and current priorities
• 06The episode captures the humor and reality of professional fighting offers
• ▶Bryan Callen pitches the Derrick Lewis bareknuckle fight idea0:00:00
• ▶Schaub explains why he's not interested in fighting again0:05:00
• ▶Discussion about comeback fights and what makes sense for retired fighters0:10:00
• ▶Callen continues to make his case with various angles0:15:00
• ▶Schaub reflects on his fighting career and current priorities0:20:00

The Show

In this Fight Companion from August 5, 2023, Brendan Schaub breaks down one of Bryan Callen's wilder ideas: trying to get him to step into a bareknuckle MMA fight against heavyweight Derrick Lewis. It's the kind of thing that sounds hilarious in theory but reveals a lot about how people view retired fighters and comeback narratives.

Schaub is pretty straightforward about why this doesn't make sense for him at this point in his career. He's moved on from fighting, built a solid comedy and podcast empire, and there's no real incentive to get back in the cage against a guy like Lewis who is still actively competing and actually good. It's not like Schaub is being unreasonable or scared. It's just the practical reality that getting back into combat sports after stepping away requires motivation that goes way beyond a funny bit or proving something to people.

What makes this conversation entertaining is how it showcases the dynamic between Schaub and Callen. Callen's the type of guy who sees an opportunity for content or spectacle and runs with it, while Schaub has to be the voice of reason explaining why it's not happening. It's a familiar dynamic for anyone who follows their comedy and podcast work together.

The episode also touches on what happens when fighters retire and what kind of comeback fights actually make sense versus the ones that are just pitched as jokes or ways to generate buzz. There's something about the fighting world that makes people think retired fighters should be down to take random matches, but the reality is much different. Schaub's got his thing going, and inserting himself into a bareknuckle match with an active heavyweight isn't part of that plan.

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