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Brendan Schaub teaming with HBO on podcast, live show ahead of Canelo vs. Chavez
Brendan Schaub never imagined when he first launched his new podcast "The Big Brown Breakdown" that he would soon be a part of one of the biggest fights in 2017, but that's exactly what happened.
The retired UFC heavyweight just recently teamed up with HBO, who will promote and air the upcoming fight between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on pay-per-view, to produce a podcast and live show surrounding the event.
"HBO reached out to me, they heard me on [Joe] Rogan's [podcast] and 'The Fighter and the Kid' and then I started my 'Big Brown Breakdown' and I guess they heard the one I did with 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and I talk about boxing a lot. My crowd, they're into boxing so I break down all the major fights. They got a hold of me, they contacted one my agents and said 'what do you think of HBO?' and I said it's HBO, I think they're amazing," Schaub told FOX Sports on Friday.
"He said what do you think about doing a collaboration deal with them, they bring you to Las Vegas with Canelo [Alvarez] and [Julio Cesar] Chavez and you do your 'Big Brown Breakdown' with them on the Friday before the fight. I said it sounds like a hell of a deal to me so that's what's going on."
Schaub will do a live show on Thursday, May 4 from the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas before producing a podcast that will record from the T-Mobile Arena just hours before Alvarez and Chavez step into the ring together on Saturday night.
While Schaub is best known from his background in mixed martial arts, it's his discussion about boxing that earned him a shot to produce this one-two combination during the weekend surrounding what is expected to be one of the biggest fights of the year.
"It's weird. The 'Big Brown Breakdown,' I don't know, I just enjoy breaking down the fights, I have a ton of opinions and on 'Fighter and the Kid' it's not like Bryan [Callen] is an expert so I figured it would just be a fun project I could do myself. I was shooting all these TV pilots and I thought I would like to do my own thing. Next thing I know it's the No. 1 sports show on iTunes, Soundcloud, all over so it's like we've got something here," Schaub said about his newest podcast.
"Podcasting it's a huge, huge thing now. 'The Fighter and the Kid' and the 'Big Brown Breakdown' reaches more people than a lot of shows on networks right now as far as television goes. It's such a loyal fan base and I know my boxing. I'm really into it. I'm really honored to be a part of something like this. I feel like a glitch in 'The Matrix.'"
Schaub joked about his recent success because when he first launched his podcast several years ago with Bryan Callen, he never imagined that he would end up with the opportunities he's received over the past few years.
From doing live shows in front of sold out audiences to kicking off his own stand-up comedy career, Schaub never takes for granted the success he's felt since taking a shot at doing something that has brought him more fame and fortune than all his time spent competing in mixed martial arts.
"With "Big Brown Breakdown", I sold out The Comedy Store two months prior, in Pasadena I'm doing residency there now. Hopefully this one in Las Vegas with HBO sells out. I really feel like a glitch in "The Matrix" right now. I'm going to ride this wave as long as I can," Schaub said.
"The other day I was doing stand-up at The Comedy Store, it's a Wednesday night, sold out crowd and they sandwiched me between David Spade and Tom Green. So I'm in the back shooting the [expletive] with David Spade and Tom Green and it's just surreal. I'm literally a glitch in 'The Matrix.' Until they figure out how to fix it, I'm going to keep going. It's insane. I'm so fortunate."
As far as what to expect during the live show and podcast from Las Vegas ahead of the historic fight between Alvarez and Chavez, Schaub says he's pulling out all the stops in terms of the guest list who will be joining him during the weekend.
"We have some huge guests coming," Schaub teased. "Roy Jones called me today and I'm going to light it up. I'm going to line up the stars on that. I'll have some really, really cool people for that show. I've got to please HBO so I've got to go all out."
Alvarez faces Chavez in the main event on Saturday night, May 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas airing live on pay-per-view.
