Brendan Schaub is sure that the recent feud between Conor McGregor and Ryan Garcia has been planned by both men. ‘The Notorious’ and ‘King Ry’ shared a remarkably amicable relationship with the UFC star having praised the superstar boxer after his recent victory over Devin Haney. However, following Garcia testing positive for steroids, things changed drastically.

The outspoken Irishman took to X and shredded Garcia to bits for his alleged PED usage and asked him to “Get your head together or kill yourself'” in a now-deleted tweet. The flamboyant boxer didn’t take this kindly and responded to McGregor with equal vitriol. And Brendan Schaub smells a set-up.

Schaub thinks Conor McGregor and Ryan Garcia are in cahoots

Speaking about the recent beef between Ryan Garcia and Conor McGregor on his podcast ‘Thicc Boy’, Brendan Schaub speculated that the duo had agreed to create a public feud before McGregor sent his incendiary tweet. “What’s weird is Connor going at him because they’re boys. We know what’s going on, right, guys? You’re crazy if you don’t think Conor texted Ryan before and was like ‘yo, let’s sell this thing. We’re both going to make a ton of money’,” remarked Schaub.

“And this is what we’re getting. Yeah, he’s just set up a fight with Ryan ‘cuz he has one fight left in the UFC, probably, maybe two, and then just sets a fight with him and Ryan,” he added. The motive behind this, according to Schaub, was to create hype for a possible fight between the two. The stand-up comedian pointed out that McGregor had only two fights left in his UFC contract. This means that he will have the opportunity to cross over once again and fight Garcia.

After his fantastic (and unexpected) victory over Devin Haney in their April 20 bout following one of the most entertaining build-ups to a fight in the recent past, ‘King Ryan’ shocked the boxing world. However, he tested positive for the banned substances for Ostarine in VADA tests held right before and after the fight.

This, of course, means that Garcia’s Haney win is at risk of getting overturned to a no-contest along with more serious potential repercussions such as a suspension/ban along with steep fines still very much on the table. The 25-year-old has been pleading innocence and alleged a conspiracy to besmirch his name as the reason behind his positive drug tests.

Seeds sown for potential McGregor-Garcia clash

Not one to back down and equally as outspoken and brash as the legendary mixed martial artist, Ryan Garcia responded to Conor McGregor’s strong advice in kind. The California native issued a challenge to the former UFC champion for a bare-knuckle fight and has vowed to beat up McGregor with one hand in recent podcast appearances.

McGregor, of course, has recently acquired a minority ownership stake in the BKFC, America’s first bare-knuckle promotion of any significance. And this conflict between them does seem like a great set-up to: a) earn a lot of money; and b) appreciate the valuation of the BKFC significantly, as a fight between the two natural showmen certainly would.

This, of course, would lend credence to Schaub’s claims of their feud being a work. However, it is equally likely that McGregor, who always goes hard and is known for his outbursts on X, may genuinely have had that reaction to the drug test. Or it may be a cynical business move on the part of McGregor, without him having taken Garcia into confidence. One thing is certain: the ongoing feud between Conor McGregor and Ryan Garcia has sown the seeds for a potential fight between the two. Whether it materializes, however, remains to be seen.

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