Morning Report: Brendan Schaub calls Conor McGregor the UFC's 'pink elephant in a circus full of grey'

Brendan Schaub is starting to open up on Dana White.

Yesterday, the former UFC heavyweight went on Colin Cowherd's The Herd on Fox Sports 1 with his podcasting partner Bryan Callen to promote their very successful podcast The Fighter and the Kid. While there, the topic of Schaub's tenure as a professional MMA practitioner came up and Cowherd asked Schaub about his departure from the sport and UFC President Dana White.

"We don't see eye to eye. I respect the guy. People think I hate him, I don't hate him. He has a tough job but I'm coming from a fighter's viewpoint. I feel like he's the warden from Shawshank Redemption. I Andy Dufresne'd myself out of that pile and [Bryan Callen] is my Morgan Freeman. We're in Mexico right now baby!"

For those who have somehow never seen The Shawshank Redemption despite its permanent fixture on every cable channel, the warden of Shawshank prison is the film's main villain, a man reviled by the audience who eventually shoots himself in the head in the film's triumphant conclusion. It's no wonder people think Schaub hates White.

White and Schaub's disagreements stem from the much maligned UFC-Reebok deal, which forced Schaub to retire due to his drastic reduction in income when he was forced to part ways with his sponsors against his will. Instead, of accepting what he believed was compensation far below his value, Schaub opted to retire and pursue other endeavors, namely his successful podcast with Callen.

While Schaub has kept from being too vocal in his dissatisfaction with some aspects of the UFC he did previously come out in favor of Conor McGregor when the UFC pulled McGregor off the UFC 200 card. Cowherd once again brought up the topic and where Schaub sided and Schaub reiterated his position that McGregor deserves special concessions.

"I'm always [on the side of the] fighter. I'm always fighter first and I voice that opinion which sometimes gets me in trouble but as long as you're true to yourself you're gonna be alright. So with Conor, we've never had a Conor. Conor's talking about fighting Floyd Mayweather for $50 million. Go find another guy who could do that. We don't have him.

"He's our pink elephant in a circus full of grey elephants. He's the pink elephant. You're gonna be able to make some adjustments to that guy. Now I understand he had obligations with the press conference and stuff like that - Conor sends out a tweet when he retired, was bigger than Kobe Bryant's retirement tweet. What are we talking about?!"

Schaub's point is one that was brought up in the immediate wake of the McGregor decision. McGregor's retirement tweet was one of the biggest sports stories of the year, and at the time, was the most retweeted post by any athlete in 2016, shattering the record held by Kobe Bryant's retirement tweet. Many have argued that that amount of interest far exceeds any promotional success a media tour by McGregor could garner. It appears Schaub agrees, though he doesn't explain who McGregor is in his Shawkshank metaphor - perhaps Brooks?

But despite his strong feelings that run counter to White's ideas, Schaub still insists that there is no bad blood between him and White.

"I wish them the best. I still watch every UFC and I support them. He has a tough job man."

You can watch the segment below.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Bitter. Michael Bisping responds to the comments Chris Weidman made about him stepping in on short notice versus Luke Rockhold.

Wimps. B.J. Penn explains the IV situation that forced him out of UFC 199.

Surgery. Chris Weidman will have neck surgery in the next week or two.

Morale booster. Urijah Faber is encouraged by Cody Garbrandt's win this past weekend.

HoF. Bob Meyrowitz, co-founder of the UFC, will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July.

EXTRA CREDIT READING

It happens. Mookie Alexander of Bloody Elbow discusses why it is okay for prospects to lose.

MEDIA STEW

Embedded 3.

And episode 4.

Almost there folks and this will be over.

PVZ says she is for sure returning to MMA.

Rockhold's interview that you see on the embedded.

Dom Cruz saying he'd fight McGregor.

If anyone knows how to turn boxing into a farce it's Bob Arum.

LISTEN UP

Heavy Hands talking this past weekend and the upcoming fights.

Press Row, in the spirit of MayGregor, talking about cross over fights.

Wonderboy interview.

TWEETS

Now this is gonna be a thing.

Im the only one in Mma who beats Floyd in a boxing ring .. @RichardPerez209 @andreward @Seckbach @OscarDeLaHoya https://t.co/vw190YwNu9

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) June 1, 2016

That would be fun to watch.

Hey @JoeSchilling187 excited to get some rounds with yo ass tomorrow!!

— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) June 2, 2016

This could apply to a lot of things not named Nate Diaz.

1-0. pic.twitter.com/xWHzRFVGk0

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 30, 2016

Keeping it classy.

Wow, someone's on his period again.

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) June 1, 2016

I laughed after cringing.

@UrijahFaber can end this fight whenever he so chooses @JustinBuchholz pic.twitter.com/bqvYWfomTw

— Chung F. Kennedy (@ChungFKennedy) June 2, 2016

We all need more Hunto in our lives.

Just signed on for a star role in an epic new movie to be shot later this year in Australia.… https://t.co/Kh424PGMkO

— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) June 2, 2016

Always a good look when "private contractors" succeeding in a $4 billion company have to keep their day jobs.

Trading my @UFC gloves for these work gloves today. Back to reality #ufc #bluecollar #usa #pipeliner #12hrshift. pic.twitter.com/Yl0Zusi5qR

— The Prototype (@AdamMilstead) May 31, 2016

This is pretty cool. Would anyone really be upset if Bisping pulled out the miracle?

I was presented with this flag earlier. It is the Union Jack obviously but what makes it so special is that it has words of support that the uk public has tweeted about me. Thank you to everyone who is supporting me. I am honoured and humbled by your support. Thank you all. @ufc @paradigmsm @ufceurope #ufc199

A photo posted by Mikebisping (@mikebisping) on May 31, 2016 at 9:28pm PDT

USADA hates morning yoga.

Had to miss yoga today random testing #cleanfighter #natural #nopedsneeded

A photo posted by Steven Ray (@stevenraymma) on Jun 1, 2016 at 12:59pm PDT

Does Urijah Faber own a suit? Or just a shirt with a collar?

Food has been replaced by media for the day. They still have @paigevanzantufc on the whirlwind tour! #foxstudios

A photo posted by Urijah Faber (@urijahfaber) on Jun 1, 2016 at 7:09pm PDT

Buddies through thick and thin it seems.

I'm excited going back to Chechnya to see my friends @kadyrov_95 and @vismuradov_95_ to watch @akhmat_mma Grand Prix semi finals it's going to be an amazing show with some great fighters @bibulatov__magomed @abdul_kerim_edilov #akhmatteam @akhmat_mm . . O Presidente da Chechenia @kadyrov_95 me convidou para ir ver seu evento de #mma @akhmat_mma

A photo posted by Fabricio Werdum (@werdum) on May 31, 2016 at 1:35pm PDT

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Darrion Caldwell (9-0-0) vs. Joe Taimanglo (22-6-1); Bellator 159, July 22.

Ivan Buchinger (30-4-0) vs. Mikhail Korobkov (9-1-1); M-1 Chellenge 67, June 4.

Think I missed a spot? Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.